What is a Positive/Plus Power on a Contact Lens Prescription?

Understanding your contact lens prescription can be a bit perplexing, especially if you're not familiar with the terminology and numbers involved. Among the essential components of a contact lens prescription is the power of the lens. Positive power, indicated as a plus value, plays a crucial role in correcting specific vision issues. Explore what a positive power on a contact lens prescription means, with a focus on hyperopia correction and how these lenses can improve your vision.

Demystifying Positive Power

In the world of contact lens prescriptions, power is measured in diopters (D), and it can be either positive (+) or negative (-). Positive power indicates that the lens is designed to correct hyperopia, commonly known as farsightedness.

Hyperopia Explained

Hyperopia is a common refractive error where distant objects can be seen more clearly than nearby objects. This occurs when light entering the eye focuses behind the retina instead of directly on it. The causes of hyperopia can vary, but it's often associated with the eye's anatomy, such as a shorter eyeball or a flatter cornea. As a result, individuals with hyperopia experience difficulty focusing on nearby objects, which can lead to eyestrain and blurred vision when reading or working on tasks up close.

The Role of Positive Power Lenses

To address hyperopia, positive power or convex lenses are used. These lenses are thicker at the center and thinner at the edges, giving them a convex shape when viewed from the front. The purpose of these lenses is to converge incoming light, so it focuses correctly on the retina, enabling individuals with hyperopia to see nearby objects more clearly.

The Value of the Positive Power

The magnitude of the positive power (measured in diopters) in your contact lens prescription indicates the strength of the lens required to correct your hyperopia. The higher the plus power value, the greater the degree of hyperopia being corrected. For example, a prescription of +2.00 D signifies a stronger positive power than a prescription of +1.00 D.

Improving Near and Distance Vision

Positive power contact lenses are designed to enhance your near vision while maintaining clear distance vision. This means you can comfortably read, work on a computer, or perform tasks up close without straining your eyes, all while having the flexibility to see distant objects without any issues.


Positive power in a contact lens prescription is a clear indicator that the lens is intended to correct hyperopia or farsightedness. By using a positive power or convex lens, the incoming light is appropriately focused on the retina, allowing you to see nearby objects more clearly. If you've been diagnosed with hyperopia, these contact lenses can provide the vision correction you need to enjoy a sharper and more comfortable visual experience, both up close and at a distance. Understanding the role of positive power in your prescription empowers you to make informed choices about your eye care and vision correction needs.

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