When you leave your eye doctor's office and look at your prescription, it may seem like an unrecognizable series of numbers and abbreviations. It makes ordering prescription glasses online challenging and overwhelming. Let's take a moment to decipher and understand what’s on your prescription. Let's get started.
Have NV/DV/SV on your prescription?
NV stands for near vision for reading use or computer use.
DV stands for distance vision for constant wear or daily use. Doctors usually use this to distinguish different usage.
SV means single vision. Doctors use this to tell you that you need single vision lens instead of bifocal or progressive lens.
How To Read Eyeglasses Prescriptions?
Then you need to know OD and OS. OD means 'right eye' and OS means 'left eye'.
SPH | SPH stands for sphere or spherical power. This indicates the amount of lens strength. There will be a plus sign for farsighted and negative sign for nearsighted - followed by a number. The larger the number, the stronger the prescription you needed to correct your vision. |
CYL and AXIS | If you have astigmatism, CYL and AXIS will be full in your prescription. Astigmatism is where the eye is not completely spherical but shaped more like a football. CYL or cylinder is the degree of how flat your eye is. The higher the number, the more astigmatism you have. The AXIS represents the orientation or angle of your astigmatism. From 1 to 180 degrees. |
ADD | ADD is an additional strength for your lens for reading or upclose work. If you need reading, intermediate, bifocal or multifocal, or progressive lenses, this should be listed in your prescription. |
PD | PD: This number indicates the distance from the center of one pupil to the center of the other, and is an important number for lens customization. If your prescription doesn't have your PD on it, don’t worry, we have a tutorial that teaches you how to measure your PD yourself. |
Prism | Prism: This is the amount of prismatic power, measured in prism diopters ("p.d." or a superscript triangle when written freehand), prescribed to compensate for eye alignment problems. |
Other questions
Q: What is a PD?
PD stands for Pupillary Distance, which is the measurement from the center of one pupil to the center of the other. Your PD is an important factor and tells you where you look through the lens of your glasses and should be as accurate as possible. For people with strong prescription, this is especially important. You can normally find your PD on your prescription. Generally speaking, the PD numbers for adults stays the same. The average PD range for adults is 57-72 mm and for kids is about 43-58 mm.
Q: I have dual PD, how can I enter it?
A dual PD would be provided with two numbers and would appear and is the measurement of each pupil center to the center of the bridge of the nose, in millimeters. Dual PD appears in the following format: "31.5/31.5". When placing the order, please click "Two PD numbers" to enter your dual PD.
Q: I have PLANO /PL under SPH on my prescription
If there is "Plano" or "PL" in the SPH section of an Rx, it means no nearsighted or farsighted correction is needed. Just leave it as a zero or Plano when entering the prescription on the order form on our website.
Q: I have SPHERE/SPH /S/DS under CYL on my prescription
If the optometrist wrote "DS" or "Sph" or "Spherical" in the Cylinder space, it indicates no correction and should be entered as 0 on the order form. This means that the eyeball is spherical and has no oblongedness, and consequently has no Cylinder or Axis values.
Q: I have BALANCE/BAL on my prescription
Balance indicates that the eye for which the designation is made, is not sighted, and that the same numbers should be entered in both eyes, in order to have the lenses matched in appearance and weight.
Q: I have PAL （progressive addition lens ）on my prescription.
PAL,the Progressive Adjusted Lens. Because of the limited reading area of a progressive lens design, the Add portion of a prescription is increased by a quarter of a diopter (typically) to compensate by increasing the size of the image. It does not change the size of that portion of the lens. If you have two ADD values in your prescription (ADD +2.00 and ADD +2.25 PAL), the ADD value +2.00 should be used for both eyes of bifocal while ADD value +2.25 should be used for both eyes of progressive.
Q: Can I use my contact lens prescription when ordering eyeglasses?
Unfortunately, contact lens and eyeglass prescriptions are different. The simple reason is because contact lenses sit directly on your eyes, while eyeglasses are held in front of your eyes. Though the prescriptions may appear similar, they will differ in strength and are not interchangeable. We cannot — and, for your safety, would not — use your contact lens prescription to make your glasses. And we would advise you to contact your eye doctor to get your eyeglasses prescription.
I have a prescription, how to read it for different uses
For progressive or bifocal glasses, the prescription can be read as:
For single vision distance use, the prescription can be read as:
To convert a multi-focal prescription with ADD values for single vision distance use, simply remove the ADD values. The correction for the astigmatism will not change, so the cylinder and axis will remain the same, regardless of the change in focal distance. Use the original distance PD listed in the prescription.
For single vision computer use, the prescription can be read as:
To convert a multi-focal prescription for single vision computer use, simply combine half of the Add number and the Spherical number (If the Add cannot be split evenly, such as ADD +2.25, both +1.25 and +1.00 can be used to convert the prescription). For example, if the Add were +2.25 and the OD-Sph was -0.50, the new OD-Sph for computer glasses would be +0.75; if the Sph were +0.25, the new Sph would be +1.50. Consequently, the Add will then become zero, the default. The correction for the astigmatism will not change, so the cylinder and axis will remain the same, regardless of the change in focal distance. Narrow the PD by 1-2 mm. If the PD of your basic prescription is 29.5/31.0, the PD for computer glasses would be 29.0/30.5 or 28.5/30.0
For single vision reading use, the prescription can be read as:
To convert a multi-focal prescription for single vision reading glasses, simply combine the Add number and the Spherical number. For example, if the Add were +2.25 and the OD-Sph was -0.50, the new OD-Sph for reading glasses would be +1.75; if the Sph were +0.25, the new Sph would be +2.50. Consequently, the Add will then become zero, the default. The correction for the astigmatism will not change, so the cylinder and axis will remain the same, regardless of the change in focal distance. Narrow the PD by 3mm. If the PD of your basic prescription is 29.5/31.0, the reading PD would be 28.0/29.5.
That's it about prescriptions.
For more information, check our help center. We hope this was informative and helpful!
FAQs
How do I read my eye prescription results? ›
The higher the number, the greater the prescription and therefore the stronger the lens strength required. For example, a prescription of -1.25 is mild myopia, whereas +6.00 is high hyperopia. 'Bad' eyesight, or rather a stronger prescription, would be any number above -5.00 or +5.00.
How do I decode my eyeglass prescription? ›In general, the further away from zero the number on your prescription, the worse your eyesight and the more vision correction (stronger prescription) you need. A “plus” (+) sign in front of the number means you are farsighted, and a “minus” (-) sign means you are nearsighted.
What does 2.75 mean for glasses? ›Sph (Sphere)
If you have a minus number, like -2.75, it means you're short-sighted and find it more difficult to focus on distant objects. A plus number indicates long-sightedness, so objects up close appear more blurred or close vision is more tiring on the eyes.
If you have one diopter of nearsightedness, your prescription will read -1.00. A single diopter is a fairly small degree of nearsightedness. On the other hand, -4.25 means that you are more nearsighted and would require stronger glasses or contact lenses.
What does +0.75 mean in eyesight? ›A plus sign would mean they are farsighted. This second number, -0.75, indicates the person has an astigmatism, which is a distortion in the shape of the cornea that causes blurred vision.
What is the normal eye SPH CYL and axis value? ›What is the normal eye SPH, CYL, and Axis value? Normal eyes would typically have about 0.50 dioptres of negative cylinder or cyl power at an axis number of 180. Typically, most people have between 0.5 to 0.75 dioptres of astigmatism and won't need contact lenses or glasses to see clearly.
What vision numbers mean? ›An eye chart measures visual acuity, which is the clearness or sharpness of vision. The top number is your distance in feet from the chart. The bottom number is the distance at which a person with normal eyesight can read the same line. For example, if you have 20/30 vision, it means your vision is worse than average.
What is SPH and CYL? ›Sph (sphere) represents how long or short sighted you are. This can be positive (+) for long sight or negative (-) for short sight. The higher the number, the stronger your lens. Cyl (cylinder) represents the amount of astigmatism present.
What is considered a strong eye prescription? ›-3.00 diopters or less is mild. -3.00 to -6.00 diopters is moderate. -6.00 to -9.00 diopters is severe. -9.00 diopters or more is extreme.
Is 2.75 legally blind? ›Simply put, if your prescription is -2.5 or lower, this means that you are legally blind. Visual acuity of -2.5 is equivalent to 20/200 vision. Visual acuity of -3.0, for instance, means that you have 20/250 or 20/300 vision.
Is +2.75 A high prescription? ›
If your number is between +0.25 and +2.00, you have mild farsightedness. If your number is between +2.25 and +5.00, you have moderate farsightedness. If your number is greater than +5.00, you have high farsightedness.
What does 2.75 vision look like? ›What Different Vision Prescriptions Look Like | WebMD - YouTube
Is 5.5 eyesight legally blind? ›If you're legally blind, your vision is 20/200 or less in your better eye or your field of vision is less than 20 degrees.
What's a bad vision score? ›20/30 to 20/60, this is considered mild vision loss, or near-normal vision. 20/70 to 20/160, this is considered moderate visual impairment, or moderate low vision. 20/200 or worse, this is considered severe visual impairment, or severe low vision.
What is a strong astigmatism prescription? ›Mild Astigmatism <1.00 diopters. Moderate Astigmatism 1.00 to 2.00 diopters. High Astigmatism 2.00 to 4.00 diopters. Extreme Astigmatism > 4.00 diopters.
What is a normal astigmatism number? ›75 diopters of astigmatism, and this is considered normal and will likely not require correction. Between . 75 and 2 diopters is considered mild astigmatism. Between 2 and 4 diopters is moderate astigmatism, and 4 or more diopters is considered significant or “bad” astigmatism.
Is .75 a strong prescription? ›Most people have a mild prescription, between 0.5 to 0.75 D. They may not really notice it in their daily lives. People with a measurement of more than . 75 D may need contacts or eyeglasses to correct their vision to see clearly.
What does 1.5 mean for glasses? ›The higher the number of diopters, the stronger the power of the glasses. That means +1.50 diopters are stronger than +1.00 diopters. Or, put another way, the higher the number, the closer you'll be able to see. On an over-the-counter display, you might find glasses ranging from +0.75 diopters to about + 3.5 diopters.
What is a normal eye sphere number? ›The average number is 62mm for women and 64mm for men. It can, however, range between 58 and 68mm.
What is normal axis in eye prescription? ›What Does Axis Mean in An Eye Prescription? The axis is a number on your eye prescription to indicate the direction any cylindrical power in your lenses must be positioned. This is required for individuals with astigmatism. The number reveals the angle of orientation in degrees, with the number ranging from 1 to 180.
How much cylindrical power is normal? ›
These eye numbers are also known as cylindrical numbers. If an eye doctor were to write this glasses number on a prescription, it would look like -0.50DC*180 degrees or -0.75DC*90 degrees or -1.25Dc*110 degrees.
What are the numbers on an eye chart? ›The top number is how far you stand from the chart (20 feet), and the bottom is the distance at which someone with normal eyesight can read the smallest line you can see clearly.
How do you figure out your eye number? ›To get the right number, you need to do a little math. To find the right reading glasses, add the sphere number to the ADD number. In the above example, for the right eye, this would be -2.00 and +1.75, which equals -0.25. For the left eye, add +1.00 and +1.75 to get +2.75.
What level of astigmatism require glasses? ›What Level of Astigmatism Requires Glasses? You'll likely need glasses if your astigmatism has a strength of 1.0 or more. But even if your astigmatism needs less than 1.0 diopters of correction, it doesn't mean you won't need glasses.
How do I know if I have astigmatism from my prescription? ›Other terms on your prescription:
Cylinder (CYL): Indicates the amount of lens power for astigmatism. If nothing appears in this column you do not have astigmatism. The minus sign is for nearsighted astigmatism and a plus sign for farsighted astigmatism.
Astigmatism means your eye is shaped more like a rugby ball than a football, so light is focused at more than 1 place in the eye. This can cause: blurred vision.
Is astigmatism a cylinder? ›CYL (or Cylinder) indicates you have a condition where the cornea and/or lens of the eye are irregularly shaped causing blurred vision, in other words, astigmatism.
How do I know the power of my glasses? ›A minus sign before the number indicates that you are nearsighted, while a plus sign means that you're farsighted. Lens power is measured in diopters. The higher the number, the stronger the prescription. For example, “-5.00” written under sphere means that you are very nearsighted and need a five diopter correction.
Is eyesight can be improved? ›Unfortunately, eyesight cannot be improved naturally and there is no way to change a refractive error, such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, or presbyopia. These types of visual conditions can be treated with glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery.
What is legally blind vision? ›Visual acuity less than 20/200 is considered legally blind, but to actually fit the definition, the person must not be able to attain 20/200 vision even with prescription eyewear. Many people who would be legally blind without eyewear can function well in everyday life with appropriate glasses or contact lenses.
What vision numbers mean? ›
An eye chart measures visual acuity, which is the clearness or sharpness of vision. The top number is your distance in feet from the chart. The bottom number is the distance at which a person with normal eyesight can read the same line. For example, if you have 20/30 vision, it means your vision is worse than average.
What is the normal eye sight? ›Having 20/20 vision means you have normal or average, vision. Some people have vision that's better than 20/20, like 20/15 vision or 20/10 vision. This means that you can see something 20 feet away (like a line on an eye chart) that most people can see when they're 15 feet away (20/15) or 10 feet away (20/10).
What level of astigmatism require glasses? ›What Level of Astigmatism Requires Glasses? You'll likely need glasses if your astigmatism has a strength of 1.0 or more. But even if your astigmatism needs less than 1.0 diopters of correction, it doesn't mean you won't need glasses.
What is considered a light prescription for glasses? ›If your number is between -0.25 and -2.00, you have mild nearsightedness. If your number is between -2.25 and -5.00, you have moderate nearsightedness. If your number is lower than -5.00, you have high nearsightedness.
What are the numbers on an eye chart? ›The top number is how far you stand from the chart (20 feet), and the bottom is the distance at which someone with normal eyesight can read the smallest line you can see clearly.
What's a bad vision score? ›20/30 to 20/60, this is considered mild vision loss, or near-normal vision. 20/70 to 20/160, this is considered moderate visual impairment, or moderate low vision. 20/200 or worse, this is considered severe visual impairment, or severe low vision.
How do you figure out your eye number? ›To get the right number, you need to do a little math. To find the right reading glasses, add the sphere number to the ADD number. In the above example, for the right eye, this would be -2.00 and +1.75, which equals -0.25. For the left eye, add +1.00 and +1.75 to get +2.75.
What is a good vision score? ›20/20 vision is referred to as the standard, or how a “normal” person sees. This means, that when you stand 20 feet away from an eye chart, you see what the normal person should see. The American Optometric Association states that a person with 20/20 vision can clearly identify a row of 9mm letters from 20 feet.
What is a good eye prescription? ›A prescription number of +1.00 or -1.00 indicates that a minimal prescription change is needed. In comparison, +4.00 or -4.00 means you need a stronger prescription to see clearly. If you notice changes in your vision, such as difficulty reading signs or seeing objects clearly, contact your eye doctor for an eye exam.
What vision is legally blind? ›Visual acuity less than 20/200 is considered legally blind, but to actually fit the definition, the person must not be able to attain 20/200 vision even with prescription eyewear. Many people who would be legally blind without eyewear can function well in everyday life with appropriate glasses or contact lenses.
What is a normal astigmatism number? ›
75 diopters of astigmatism, and this is considered normal and will likely not require correction. Between . 75 and 2 diopters is considered mild astigmatism. Between 2 and 4 diopters is moderate astigmatism, and 4 or more diopters is considered significant or “bad” astigmatism.
Should people with astigmatism wear glasses all the time? ›Do you need glasses for Astigmatism? Astigmatism does not always require the use of glasses. A person can have slight astigmatism and still see clearly. Similar to the rest of the body, the eyes change over time, so regular eye checks with your local optometrist are of importance.
What is the main cause of astigmatism? ›What causes astigmatism? Astigmatism happens when your cornea or lens has a different shape than normal. The shape makes light bend differently as it enters your eye, causing a refractive error. Doctors don't know what causes astigmatism, and there's no way to prevent it.
How do you know if reading glasses are too strong? ›What if my reading glasses are too strong? If wearing your new reading glasses makes you want to hold a newspaper closer than usual, that could be a sign your glasses are too strong. Don't worry: This won't hurt you, but you might not enjoy reading that way.
How do I know the power of my glasses? ›A minus sign before the number indicates that you are nearsighted, while a plus sign means that you're farsighted. Lens power is measured in diopters. The higher the number, the stronger the prescription. For example, “-5.00” written under sphere means that you are very nearsighted and need a five diopter correction.
What is the most common reading glasses strength? ›1.00 reading glasses
This is one of the most commonly-bought reading glasses strengths. It's the prescription to pick if you only have slight problems reading small letters.