# Eye care for People With High Prescriptions

> "My lenses are thick, heavy and I hate how they make my eyes look."

High prescriptions benefit most from high index materials and careful frame selection, and they also carry a raised risk of retinal problems that makes annual examination genuinely important.

The cosmetic frustration of a high prescription is real and it is largely solvable. High index materials achieve the same correction with substantially less thickness, and frame choice makes as much difference as material: a smaller frame means a smaller lens and less edge thickness.

The more important point is medical. High myopia means a longer eye, which means a stretched and thinner retina. That raises lifetime risk of retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy and glaucoma, and it means new floaters or flashes should be taken seriously rather than dismissed.

Contact lenses are often a good option for high prescriptions too, because they avoid the image size distortion and the peripheral aberration that thick spectacle lenses produce.

## What matters most

**Thickness and weight**

High index materials plus a smaller frame make a substantial difference. Both are worth discussing before choosing.

**Retinal risk**

High myopia raises the risk of retinal tears and detachment. Annual widefield retinal imaging matters more for you than for most people.

**Floaters and flashes**

A sudden increase in floaters or new flashing lights should be assessed the same day rather than watched.

## Where to start

- [High index lenses](https://eyedoctorphoenixaz.com/eyeglasses-and-eyewear/high-index-lenses): Thinner and lighter for the same correction
- [Floaters and flashes](https://eyedoctorphoenixaz.com/specialty-eye-care/floaters-and-flashes): Higher risk with a long eye
- [Contact lenses](https://eyedoctorphoenixaz.com/contact-lenses/soft-contact-lenses): No edge distortion, no image size change


## Questions and answers
**Will high index lenses look thin?**

Considerably thinner. Above three or four dioptres the difference is very noticeable, and frame size affects it as much as material.

**Am I at higher risk of anything?**

Yes. High myopia raises the risk of retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy and glaucoma, which is why annual retinal imaging is worth prioritising.

---## About this practice
Arizona's Vision Eye Care Center, 15215 S 48th St Ste 180, Phoenix, AZ 85044.
Phone (480) 706-3937. Monday to Thursday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
Independent optometry practice, founded 1994. One location. Does not perform refractive or cataract surgery.
This site publishes no star rating and no review count, because the figures across the practice's own properties contradict one another and cannot be verified.
This page is general information, not medical advice.