How to Read Your Prescription

How to Read Your Prescription?

Single Vision Prescription

If your prescription is like the following one, you need first to choose single vision type, and then fill in the correct information like the example below.

Single Vision Prescription with Prism

If your single vision prescription is like the following one, you also need to fill in the prism information besides all other information like the example below.

Progressive Prescription

If your prescription is like the following ones, you need to fill in information like the example below.

Sample 1: you just need to fill in the corresponding values.

Sample 2: you need to change +225 to +2.25, -150 to -1.50, -125 to -1.25, -50 to -0.50, and then fill in the corresponding values.

Sample 3: you need to use Near O.D. +0.75-Distance O.D.-1.50 or use Near O.S.+1.00- Distance O.S. -1.25 to get the ADD +2.25 value and then fill in the ADD blank.

PS: the three different prescriptions get the same prescription lenses.

Note

OD: Oculus Dexter refers to right eye.
OS: Oculus Sinister refers to left eye.
SPH: Sphere refers to the main correction in the prescription, correcting nearsighted or farsighted vision. Minus (-) values are for nearsightedness, and Plus (+) values are for farsightedness. If "PL" or "Plano" is written for this value then you should select 0.00 for this field.
CYL & Axis: Cylinder, combined with Axis, refers to correction for astigmatism. It can be either positive (+) or negative (-). A CYL value will always have an Axis value. Axis refers to the angle of the correction for the astigmatism (CYL) from 1 to 180 degrees. If "DS" or "SPH" is noted in the CYL space on your prescription, you have no astigmatism in that eye, so just enter 0.00 for the CYL and Axis.
ADD: Addition refers to additional magnification that is needed for reading, such as in a progressive or bifocal lens. It is sometimes seen on your prescription as NV-ADD (Near Vision Addition). We display a single NV-ADD field since it is almost always the same value for both eyes.

PRISM: Prism refers to the amount of prismatic power measured in diopters, for correcting eye alignment issues, like double vision or "lazy eye". Most eyeglass prescriptions do not have prism correction. The prism will have two values: a Prism (power) and Base (direction).

Understanding Your Prescription — The Key to Perfect Vision