A brief guide to contact lenses: which ones you need and how to take care of them
12/2/2026
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Ordering contact lenses is easy – if you know what you need. But what do BC, DIA, PWR and all those other abbreviations mean? In this guide, I’ll spell out these package acronyms and show you what to look out for while browsing.
BC 8.6, DIA 14.2, PWR –2.5. Sounds like a secret code, right? Welcome to the colourful world of contact lenses. First off, while all these abbreviations might look complicated, all you really need to do is answer three simple questions. Does the lens fit your eye? Does it help your vision? And does it suit your day-to-day?
Note: contact lenses are medical devices. This article explains the basics, but doesn’t replace an individual fitting or advice from an optician or ophthalmologist. Make sure to consult a specialist, especially if you experience discomfort or want to try contact lenses for the first time.
Can I just order contact lenses online?
Yes, if you already wear professionally fitted lenses and know their exact specs. It’s important you adhere exactly to the specifics here, «close enough» isn’t good enough.
If you’ve never worn contact lenses before, you’ll need a professional fitting. A specialist will check both your eyesight as well as whether lenses will fit right and whether you can tolerate them.
Can’t I just copy the power of my glasses?
No, that won’t work. Prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses differ significantly, since spectacles sit in front of your eyes while lenses are placed directly onto the cornea. It’s essential you have the right specs for contact lenses determined professionally.
Soft or hard contact lenses?
Soft lenses are flexible, adapt to the surface of your eyes and often quickly feel comfortable. They’re available as daily or monthly disposable lenses.
Rigid gas permeable lenses, also known as hard lenses, are smaller and retain their shape. They usually take longer to get used to, but may be the better choice for certain eye shapes or visual defects. Which lens is right for you depends on your eyes, your tear film and your everyday life. Get advice before you decide.
Daily or monthly lenses: what’s the difference?
Daily lenses are disposable products, you replace them once a day, then dispose of them. You won’t have to clean anything and you’ll start every day with fresh lenses. However, you’ll produce waste every day and pay more per month than for monthly lenses.
Monthly lenses last much longer, so you’ll need to look after them consistently. This means cleaning and storing them correctly. If you know you struggle a bit when it comes to routines, daily disposable lenses are often the more relaxed choice. However, if you’re consistent with your personal hygiene, monthly lenses can work very well day-to-day.
What information do I need to order replacements, and what do they mean?
Now we come to that secret code I joked about earlier. In truth, it’s a technical description for what you’re putting in your eyes. When ordering a new batch, apply the values exactly as they’ve been specified.
PWR and SPH are most common. They refer to the power, i.e. the dioptre number for short-sightedness or long-sightedness. Negative values (e.g. -2.00) refer to short-sightedness, positive values to long-sightedness. If all your package states is the power, it’s usually a spherical lens, correcting evenly in all directions.
Then there’s BC and DIA. BC (base curve) describes the curvature of the lens, DIA the diameter. Both primarily determine the fit on your eyes.
Even more abbreviations come into play if there’s a corneal curvature. Then you’ll see CYL as well as AX, and usually the reference toric as well. CYL indicates how much the curvature is corrected, AX in which direction (0 to 180 degrees). Toric lenses are designed to be stable in precisely this alignment, otherwise, your vision will blur and correct rapidly.
Contact lenses
Johnson & Johnson 1 Day Acuvue Moist for Astigmatism, 90-Pack
-1.5, Daily lens, 90 pcs., Toric
If you need different corrections for near and far-sightedness, you’ll often see the label multifocal and the value ADD. ADD indicates additional magnifying power. Multifocal lenses work similarly to varifocals, just directly on your eye.
Do contact lenses have a UV filter and does it help?
Some contact lenses have an integrated UV filter, but not all. You can usually find this information in the product details or on the packaging. Important to note: a UV filter in contact lenses can’t replace sunglasses, it only blocks the radiation partially.
Can I use eye drops with contact lenses?
Yes, if the drops are expressly suitable for contact lenses. They can help with dry eyes or when your lenses become uncomfortable.
However, if your eye constantly needs drops, something’s gone wrong. This may be due to your lens type, material, care product or simply your eyes. In this case, seek professional advice instead of simply «dripping away» the problem.
How do I clean contact lenses properly and how do I store them?
You don’t need to clean daily disposable lenses. With monthly disposable lenses, care is crucial, but simple:
- Remove the lenses from your eyes with clean, dry hands.
- Apply some combination solution and rub it gently in the palm of your hand to remove deposits.
- Rinse the lenses with combination solution and place them in a clean container with fresh solution.
Never use tap water. It isn’t sterile and may contain germs that can cause infections.
Contact lens solutions + accessories
Lensilux All-in-One Combination Solution +Container Solvent
All in One solution, 360 ml
Bam, you’re ready to go: grab a box or contact lens card, check the specs, choose between daily and monthly, plan your routine if required. And if there’s burning, pain or your vision starts blurring, be sure to seek professional advice.
Header image: Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock
Anna Sandner
Senior Editor
Anna.Sandner@galaxus.deScience editor and biologist. I love animals and am fascinated by plants, their abilities and everything you can do with them. That's why my favourite place is always the outdoors - somewhere in nature, preferably in my wild garden.
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