How to Read Your Eyeglasses Prescription: A Complete Guide

Understanding your eyeglasses prescription can feel like deciphering a secret code. But don’t worry—you’re not alone! Many people find themselves confused by the numbers, abbreviations, and medical jargon on their prescription. Whether you’re ordering glasses online or just curious about what your optometrist wrote, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to read your prescription like a pro.

Why Is It Important to Understand Your Prescription?
Your eyeglasses prescription is more than just a piece of paper—it’s a customized formula for your vision correction. Understanding it ensures that you get the correct lenses, avoid common mistakes, and make informed decisions when purchasing eyewear.

Breaking Down the Prescription: What Do the Numbers Mean?

1. OD and OS:
– OD (Oculus Dexter): Refers to your right eye.
– OS (Oculus Sinister): Refers to your left eye.
– Note: Sometimes, you’ll also see OU (Oculus Uterque). which means both eyes.

2. SPH (Sphere):
– What It Means: This number indicates the lens power needed to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness. A minus sign (-) means you’re nearsighted (myopia), and a plus sign (+) means you’re farsighted (hyperopia).
– Example: If your prescription reads -2.00, you need lenses that correct 2 diopters of nearsightedness.

3. CYL (Cylinder):
– What It Means: This number shows the lens power needed to correct astigmatism. If this section is blank, you either don’t have astigmatism or it’s not significant enough to require correction.
– Example: A CYL value of -1.25 indicates that you have 1.25 diopters of astigmatism correction.

4. AXIS:
– What It Means: The axis number indicates the orientation of the astigmatism correction on the lens, measured in degrees (from 1 to 180). It’s only present if there’s a CYL value.
– Example: An axis of 90 means that the astigmatism correction is oriented horizontally on the lens.

5. ADD (Addition):
– What It Means: This is the additional magnifying power applied to the bottom part of multifocal lenses for reading. It’s common in bifocals and progressive lenses.
– Example: If your ADD is +2.00, that’s the extra strength added to the reading portion of your lenses.

6. Prism:
– What It Means: Prism correction is less common and is used to correct double vision or other eye alignment issues. The prism is measured in diopters and is indicated in the direction (base up, down, in, or out).
– Example: A prism value might look like “2 Base In,” indicating the prism is oriented inward.

Our Optics Team have researched and answered common questions

1. “Why are my CYL and AXIS numbers so high? Should I be worried?”
– Answer: Higher CYL and AXIS numbers simply mean a stronger correction for astigmatism. This isn’t uncommon and just reflects the level of correction needed to provide clear vision. It’s not something to worry about but might require some adjustment when you first start wearing your glasses.

2. “I see ‘PD’ on my prescription. What is that?”
–Answer: PD stands for Pupillary Distance, which measures the distance between the centers of your pupils. It’s crucial for ensuring that the optical center of your lenses aligns correctly with your pupils. This measurement is often required when ordering glasses online.

3. “Can I use the same prescription for both my eyeglasses and contact lenses?”
– Answer: Not always. Contact lens prescriptions include additional measurements, such as the base curve and diameter, because contacts sit directly on your eye, whereas glasses sit further away. Always get a specific prescription for contacts from your optometrist.

Finding the Perfect Frames

Now that you understand your prescription, the next step is to find the perfect eyeglass frames that suit both your style and needs. We’ve made it easy for you to explore a wide variety of frames designed to work perfectly with your prescription.

• Ready to explore? Check out our curated collection of eyeglass frames and accessories that align with your prescription. Whether you’re looking for something trendy or timeless, we have frames that will match your vision needs and your fashion sense.

Understanding your eyeglasses prescription empowers you to make informed decisions about your eye health. Whether you’re shopping for new glasses or simply want to understand what your optometrist has recommended, this guide should provide clarity.

Remember, if you ever have doubts or questions, don’t hesitate to reach out Stoke Optics at Support@stokeglobal.co.uk.