All frame measurements can be found in the details tab on our product pages. But don't worry, after reading this page you'll understand what all the details mean and you'll know how to read your glasses prescription correctly. OD is your right eye. All About Vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC. Prism refers to the amount of prismatic power needed to correct eye alignment problems, measured in prism diopters. Nowadays, most of us wear glasses and most of us just take the prescription to the optical store to pick out a pair of glasses. Is 20/20 or 6 by 6 vision perfect eyesight? Some eyeglass prescriptions may require a PD (pupillary distance) measurement. Axis: An axis number will also be included if you have an astigmatism. The first thing to understand your eyeglass prescription is knowing what "OD" and OS" means. 6. What does SPH mean for glasses? What does that mean. The cyl power has its axis at the 180 meridian, meaning the horizontal (180-degree) meridian of the eye has no added power for astigmatism and the vertical (90-degree) meridian gets the added -0.50 D. Both eyes are being prescribed an "add power" of +2.00 D for the correction of presbyopia, and this eyeglass prescription includes a prismatic correction of 0.5 prism diopter in each eye. When you hold the prescription, have you ever been curious to know what the number and letters mean for your eyesight? ; values are usually entered with computer, but may be handwritten by doctor. The measurement is Prism Dioptre. It is measured with the unit diopters (D), indicating the lens power of the glasses. What Do the Abbreviations on My Glasses Prescription Mean? There are two vision conditions, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Download Our Mobile App for Faster Checkout. If you have been provided with a BVD value ensure to enter it into the additional information or comments box provided with any online prescription forms. Cylinder indicates the amount of lens power for astigmatism. The cylinder is the indication of the condition, astigmatism, in which the cornea is shaped irregularly causing distorted or blurred vision. On the other hand, in the farsightedness, the person can see those objects clearly which are far but near object seems blurry. Learn about LASIK success rates and side effects, Learn about the costs associated with LASIK, Benefits of LASIK for astigmatism correction, How to find vision insurance that covers LASIK, Compare PRK and LASIK procedures and results, 14 tips for protecting your vision after LASIK. Sometimes they need to be adjusted by professionals. Did you get confused? The AXIS, in degrees, is a number between 0 and 180. 2004 - 2023 Spex4less, Fashion Specs Direct LTD, All Rights Reserved. The numbers on your eyeglass prescription describe precisely how your glasses lenses should be cut. OS is an abbreviation of the Latin oculus sinister which means left eye. To make a purchase on our Canadian site, you'll need to create a separate account. If the PD/Pupillary Distance for the glasses is not set correctly then your eyes may have to strain to look through them, this can lead to headaches, eyestrain, visual distortion and in severe cases, double vision. Our friendly customer service team are on hand to help Monday to Friday 9 am-5 pm and Saturdays 9 am-12 pm. The AXIS, in degrees, is a number between 0 and 180. | Melody Huang is an optometrist and freelance health writer. When 180 is reached, the axis then starts over at 0. Well break down your prescription step-by-step. For example: SPH -3.25 CYL -1.25 AXIS 120. What face shape best suits browline glasses? The Axis in your prescription is usually measured from 1 to 180. Consent is not a condition of purchase. This correction is often used for driving, television and general wear (walking around). What is segment height and how do you measure it? This indicates the amount of lens power, measured in diopters (D), prescribed to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness. You qualify for free shipping in the US! The "ADD" value may be written in the "Near Addition" space on your prescription. If you dont have any medical issues that affect your vision, you should have a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years. OOPS! The measurement is the Dioptre, and most values range from +0.50 to +3.50 and will go up in steps of 0.25. Dist, refers to distance, this is the prescription required to correct distance vision. Plano, Infinity, 0.00, - Basically 0.00 or no correction is required for that part of the prescription. This means that the eyeball is spherical and has no oblongedness, and consequently has no Cylinder or Axis values. It is measured in diopters, the unit of measurement for the lens's refractive (light-bending) power. The three columns (from left to right) refer to Sphere (SPH), Cylinder (CYL) and Axis. Prescribing spectacles: reasons for failure of spectacle lens acceptance. Optometrists measure SPH values in increments of 0.25 diopters, and when people talk about their prescription degree, theyre usually talking about their sphere value. Now that you understand those mysterious letters and numbers, you know how to read a glasses prescription! A minus (-) symbol next to this number means you're nearsighted, and a plus (+) symbol means the prescription is meant to correct farsightedness. The axis is defined with a number from 1 to 180. What does Axis mean for glasses? Our entire range of mens glasses suitable for varifocal lenses. This value is the amount to add on to the distance SPH values to ascertain what the full Near prescription should be. Privacy, Eye Testing and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). We always recommend attaching a copy of your prescription to the order, or fax this through or email it separately, we will double check the prescription this end to ensure the correct lenses are produced. Sphere means the spherical correction where the meridians of the human eye are equal. If for any reason you are not satisfied with your order, we will replace or exchange your glasses/lenses. This is why you need to go to a local optician, not buy online. A prescription for someone who is farsighted will feature a number with a plus (+) symbol in the sphere box. Pupillary distance explained: how to measure PD. In eye prescription, what does CYL means? When reading your glasses prescription you will find values under the headings of SPH, CYL, AXIS and sometimes PRISM & BASE. 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. Progressive For multi-focal glasses, as well as reading and computer glasses, your Rx will include an ADD or NV value. The axis is the orientation of the cylinder when looking at an eye. An eye prescription specifies the values needed for your corrective eyewear. What is CYL, AXIS and SPH? Remember, eyeglasses prescriptions are different than prescriptions for contact lenses. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The CYL and AXIS compensate for an astigmatism. All Rights Reserved. You've just had an eye exam and your optometrist or ophthalmologist has given you an eyeglass prescription, but what do all those numbers on your eyeglass prescription mean? In the second part, we will explain what the Cylinder in glasses is. Add, Near Add, Reading Addition - These all relate to your reading addition and can be written anywhere on the prescription. This box maybe empty or have a plus or a minus value in it. Register so we can email you as soon as its becomes available! In this case, the eye doctor has prescribed -2.00 D sphere for the correction of myopia in the right eye (OD). It usually occurs along with near or farsightedness. What does SPH DS mean? If you see a negative value (-) that means your child is nearsighted. While you likely know whether youre nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism, determining that from your prescription slip is another thing entirely. On the eye prescription, there are minus and plus signs in the cylinder column. 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. A minus sign () means it's correcting nearsighted astigmatism, while plus sign(+) means it's correcting farsighted astigmatism. The cylinder is the indication of the condition, astigmatism, in which the cornea is shaped irregularly causing distorted or blurred vision. If you are trying to reach us outside of these hours please email us at [emailprotected] and we will respond the next working day. Michael is the content strategist and a lead content writer for Vision Center. You'll notice the CYL and AXIS values are the same for both distance and near. Cylindrical correction means that one meridian has no added power, while the meridian perpendicular to it has the maximum lens curvature and power added to it. An SPH number indicates if you are farsighted or nearsighted. In the vertical meridian of the eyes, the number 90 is used. In astigmatism, the curvature of the eye is imperfect. On the prescription of eyeglasses, the cylinder typically follows the sphere power. The doctor wrote "SPH" in the Cylinder column. The SPH number on a glasses prescription is listed as a positive (+) or negative (-) number. You can view our cookie policy here. They are abbreviations foroculus dexterandoculus sinister, which are Latin terms for right eye and left eye. The cylinder is the amount of power change from the sphere in one meridian. Sphere: The sphere (SPH) on your prescription indicates the lens power you need to see clearly. Only one meridian will be adjusted to fix your astigmatism. In the context of an eye prescription, OD means right eye and OS means left eye. When we look at the eye prescription written by our consultant, different questions come to mind. For example: "+2.25 ADD" or "Add +2.25". The information on this free-form prescription is usually handwritten. Sphere: The sphere (SPH) on your prescription indicates the lens power you need to see clearly. BO=Base Out, BI=Base In, BU=Base Up, and BD (or BDn)=Base Down. Axis refers to the lens meridian with no cylindrical power to correct astigmatism. This means that a person can see the object clearly at 20 feet. The number under the add column tells us the 2nd lens prescription needed for multifocal lenses. This indicates the amount of lens power, measured in diopters (D), prescribed to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness. This number is followed by the base direction, or thickest edge, of the prism. What do the values on your prescription mean? It is the amount of magnification required to "ADD" to the "SPH" value of your "Distance" prescription to correct your near vision. This ensures that they can see clearly in class; poor vision can seriously impact a childs learning. That means that you have no astigmatism to correct in that eye. The number marked axis describes the orientation of astigmatism. The number under 'cylinder' provides the lens power needed to correct the astigmatism. SPH stands for spherical power and describes the degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness. Most values range from 0.00 to +/- 20.00 and go up in steps of 0.25. Though the use of these abbreviated Latin terms is traditional for prescriptions written for eyeglasses, contact lensesand eye medicines, some doctors and clinics have opted to modernize their prescriptions and use RE (right eye) and LE (left eye) instead of OD and OS. A nearsighted prescription will feature a number with a minus (-) symbol in the sphere box. Do you know the meaning of the Sphere, Cylinder and Axis? It does not matter whether the correction is of farsightedness or nearsightedness; it is always in spherical form. Sphere refers to the power of your lens (measured in dioptre units) to correct the degree of short or long sight you have. SPH is one of the parameters to report your eye prescription. Thats where your new prescription from your optometrist or ophthalmologist comes in. On any prescription, PD can be written in different ways: e.g., 62 (Single PD), 33/31 (Dual PD), or 62/60 (Distance PD/Near PD). The sphere power is the base power of a lens which is 360 degrees around the lens. The Add, short for Reading Addition, is the additional correction required for reading, this can be used to make either reading glasses, bifocal glasses or Varifocal glasses. I promise not to get in a petty snit. This stands for cylinder, and it refers to the strength of the lenses needed to correct your astigmatism. At first glance, the details may seem quite confusing. What Does SPH mean? It is the amount of magnification required to "ADD" to the "SPH" value of your "Distance" prescription to correct your near vision. Similarly, the values concerning the correction of your left eye may be indicated as "LE", "Left", "Left Eye" or "OS" which is an abbreviation for Oculus Sinister, the Latin term for "Left Eye". 1-800 Contacts is our #1 recommendation to buy contacts online. Free Gifts with Purchases Over $100 | Learn More. A cylinder forms a focus 90 degrees to its axis. If you complete an eye exam and find your eyes needs have changed, you need to order a new prescription as soon as possible. This indicates the required strength for the near prescription in your lens. There are occasions where your optician will write out your complete "Distance" prescription followed by your complete "Near" prescription. Knowing what they mean will also help you more easily discuss your prescription with your eye care professional. Add is the added magnifying power applied to the bottom part ofmultifocal lensesto correctpresbyopia. This extra power will ALWAYS be the same for each eye and may only appear once on your prescription but it is understood to be meant for both eyes. Or, are the sphere & axis values so small they can be dropped off? They may only write it once, but it normally applies to both eyes and is almost always the same value for both eyes (e.g. This format is less common in the US. You have used an email and/or password that does not match our records. Let's use an example to understand things better. Find an eyecare professional and book online in minutes! This is a common question when the person who consults eye specialists encountered the eye prescription. It does not matter whether the correction is of farsightedness or nearsightedness; it is always in spherical form. 'Sphere' is basically a measure of how strong your prescription needs to be. This number always has a (+) sign. This is the abbreviation for the Latin termoculus uterque, which means "both eyes.". Analytics cookies are used to understand how you interact with our content. What are the different types of contact lenses? or a superscript triangle when written freehand), prescribed to compensate for eye alignment problems. What does Axis mean for glasses? It indicates the amount of lens power needed to correct astigmatism, measured in diopters. Cylinder axes range from 0 to 180, and are based on a hemispheric protractor. Clicking 'I have TWO complete rows of figures on my prescription" will open up new option boxes for you to open your prescription. If in doubt just enter your prescription as you see it, if youre not sure what type of lenses are suitable, hover your mouse over the question mark next to the lens type to reveal more detailed information about the product. Here at Spex4Less, you will find both of these options directly above the prescription form. If youre looking for eyeglasses that can bend without breaking, look great and enhance your vision all at o My manafest refraction test was -50 -50 110 + 250, But my rx reads -50 sph axis +250. You will also have a corresponding "AXIS" value (see below).When no astigmatism correction is required the optician will leave the box blank. How computer glasses can ease digital eye strain, How screen time effects child development, Importance of eye care and regular eye exams, What to expect at a comprehensive eye exam, Paediatric eye exam: How they are different. What face shape best suits cat eye glasses? What is the difference between polarized and non-polarized lenses? Click here if your prescription looks different to this form. as shown in the image below. CYL, or cylinder, refers to the amount of astigmatism correction you need. If this is the case, your prescription will display SPH, CYL & AXIS values in both the "Distance" and "Near" sections of the prescription. On the other hand, if your SPH value is +1.00, you are farsighted and need correction for seeing closer objects. So what's an astigmatism? OSstands for oculus sinister, Latin for left eye.. Sphere (SPH) and Cylinder (CYL) always have a (+) or (-) sign. SPH is a '+' or '-' value in 0.25 steps and is required to correct your nearsightedness (-) or farsightedness (+). Inter, Inter Add, Int Add, Int, Intermediate Addition- These all relate to your intermediate addition and are used to make glasses for intermediate distance use. A survey of the criteria for prescribing in cases of borderline refractive errors. The higher the number on your prescription, the stronger your prescription is. The PD/Pupillary Distance is generally measured during a sight test, but is not routinely written on a prescription, you can ask for this from your Opticians, or ask them to add it to your prescription when you are tested. This indicates that your lens should be shaped to correct near vision. There is no astigmatism correction for this eye, so no cylinder power or axis is noted. What the values on your prescription mean. Newer Post . How Do You Keep Your Glasses From Fogging Up With A Ski Mask? Myopia control: How to slow your child's myopia, Childrens eye care problems at school-age, How the eye works: Refraction and refractive errors, Using eye drops: How to correctly apply them. The optical centre of each lens should be placed directly in front of the centre of each of your pupils. Press J to jump to the feed. Kids' glasses and frames: A guide to fun children's eyewear. In SPH, plus sign is an indication of which condition? Thats why weve put together a short guide to help you learn how to read a glasses prescription so you can get to ordering your new set of eyeglasses as quickly as possible. This is especially handy as you can copy the values without having to make any calculations yourself. COPYRIGHT document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); ZENNI OPTICAL , INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Cylinder power is always written after sphere power in an eyeglass prescription. (Some doctors will add "DS" for "diopters sphere;" others will leave this area blank.). The CYL basically represents the main differences in the weakest as well as greatest eye powers which are usually separated by degrees (90). Balance - No values are required. The BVD stands for Back Vertex Distance, this is a measurement that is included on any prescription where the sphere or cylinder powers are higher than + or - 5.00D and to a lesser extent some prescriptions where it is less than this power. The type of Rx glasses may be noted on a prescription, such as DV [Distance Vision/nearsightedness] and NV [Near Vision/reading]. Like SPH and CYL, optometrists measure ADD in increments of 0.25 diopters. These are needed to tell us how to shape the lens so that it can accurately align the wearers eyesight. What Is The Difference Between A Retinal Tear And A Retinal Detachment? The lens power amount is, therefore, measured in D (diopters) for farsightedness or nearsightedness. Spex4less and SPEX4LESS are registered trademarks of Fashion Specs Direct Limited. The size is not dangerous or bad, but the number associated with it (ex: Size: small, medium, large, extra-large etc.) The "Distance" row contains the values required to correct your distance vision for the respective eye. Standard msg & data rates may apply. A minus (-) symbol next to this number means youre nearsighted, and a plus (+) symbol means the prescription is meant to correct farsightedness. Youll often see this terms on eyeglass prescriptions. This means that a person can see the object clearly at 20 feet. The two rows refer to your right (OD) and left (OS) eyeswith the right eye always on the upper row. Drooping eyelids: The causes and treatment of ptosis, Hyphema: Facts about internal eye bleeding, Eye discharge: Sleep, or rheum in your eyes, How to get rid of a stye with treatment at home, Eye allergies: Itchy, red and watery eyes, Blepharitis: Causes, symptoms and treatment, Eye infections: Causes, symptoms and treatment, 7 eye stye facts: Causes, symptoms, treatment, Blue light: How its both bad and good for your eyes. Whats more, if an eyeglass prescription includes cylinder power, it also must include an Axis value, which follows the CYL power. VA, Visual Acuities- These values describe your vision (visual acuity) but are not needed to make your glasses. If the human eye acuity is 20/200, this is called the bad eye axis and is considered the blind person. This is the most common format with clearly printed fields for OD, OS, SPH, CYL, etc. Our entire range of mens prescription designer glasses. There will also be a number in the axis column thats needed for astigmatism correction. If you are nearsighted, you will see there is a minus sign(-) next to the Sphere number. Sphere means the spherical correction where the meridians of the human eye are equal. You can measure your current frame from screw to screw, which is already a perfect fit for you . These will usually be specific types of corrective lens recommendations such as multifocal lenses, progressives, anti-reflective coating, photochromatic, or transition lenses. It will be a number between 1 and 180. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. If you require spectacles for intermediate use include the INTER ADD in the ADD box when ordering and also advise us in the additional info box that you require these for intermediate use. Unlike SPH measurement, CYL measurement will tell your eyeglass manufacturer how much curvature is needed on your lens to balance out the meridians of your eyes. Cylinder: The cylinder (CYL) number indicates the . oBundle. The number under cylinder provides the lens power needed to correct the astigmatism. Your eyeglass prescription contains other terms and abbreviations as well. Specific parts of Rx: To expand on dr. Proffitt's answer, sph = sphere; if this is a negative number, the prescription is a myopic or nearsighted prescription and a positive number dictates a farsighted or hyperopic prescription. What does "SPH" appearing under Cylinder on my prescription mean? If not, keep on your reading and you will find the full explanations in the following part. Please note you can also upload a copy of your prescription during checkout and our Optometrist will check it against what you have entered on your order and you will be notified if there are any discrepancies. Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales, 2023 You've probably asked yourself many times, what does my glasses prescription mean? Youll typically find the abbreviates OD and OS on the left side of your prescription. If you have an astigmatism, you will have a number in the cylinder column of your prescription that indicates the lens power needed to correct the astigmatism. If the axis changes by more than 90, you need to consult an eye specialist. An astigmatism is where the eye is shaped slightly like a rugby ball or referred to as toric, not a perfect sphere like a football. The second prescription shows the patients complete distance prescription for the right and left eye followed by a reading addition value of +2.25. Children should have their first eye exam when they are around six months old, and then another just before they start school. to Fri (9am - 5pm) SPH, or sphere, is the amount of lens power needed to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness, whereas CYL, or cylinder, is the amount of lens power needed to correct astigmatism. These numbers typically are the same for both eyes and range from +0.75 to +3.00. If nothing appears in your CYL column, you do not require astigmatism correction. Naturally, a prescription will contain values for the correction of both of your eyes. The values concerning the correction your right eye may be indicated as "RE", "Right", "Right Eye" or "OD" which is an abbreviation for Oculus Dexter, the Latin term for "Right Eye". The images below show the same prescription information in two different formats. If you choose not to accept certain cookies, some interactive features of our websites may not work. 5. How to Measure Your PD with A Regular Ruler. GogglesNMore All Rights Reserved. Terms of sale You will notice there is no CYL or AXIS for the left eye, this means there is no astigmatism present. Notable terms include: Sphere (SPH) - The term "sphere" means that the correction for nearsightedness or farsightedness is spherical, equal in all meridians of the eye. 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. The number 90 corresponds to the vertical meridian of the eye, and the number 180 corresponds to the horizontal meridian. This is only present if your eyes do not focus well together as a pair, such as in strabismus (eye turn). The axis is defined with a number from 1 to 180. One FREE Frame with SV 1.56 index lenses are included ! The base value will show either in or out, or up and down, indicating the direction the prism should be angled. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Optometrists measure SPH values in increments of 0.25 diopters, and when people talk about their prescription degree, they're usually talking about their sphere value. Each spectacle lens will have an optical centre, this is a point on the lens where it performs the best and has the least distortion. These include: Sphere indicates the amount of lens power, measured in diopters(D), prescribed to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness. Different Prescriptions and How to Enter Your Values On Our Site. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement. 1. When shes not working, Dr. Huang loves reviewing new skin care products, trying interesting food recipes, or hanging with her adopted cats. You may also have a column labeled OU, which means oculus uterque, or both eyes. : r/glasses. Worried about the wrong fit? What does VD mean on eye prescription? Astigmatism correction is not spherical. It is not a condition, or disease. Copyright 2022 VisionCenter.org. Loved by Customers -64,000+ Trustpilot Reviews! Unlike typical Rx formats, with values going from left to right, the vertical Rx values are listed top to bottom. . Your prescription gives us, your Opticians or Doctors recommendation for clear and comfortable vision. In some cases, the optician may write what appears to be a slash above the figure to indicate a "-" value.When no correction for SPH is required the optician will write "Plano", "", "0.00" or just leave the space blank. It's considered a mild amount of nearsightedness. The term "sphere" means that the correction for nearsightedness or farsightedness is "spherical," or equal in all meridians of the eye. SPH is the abbreviation for the word sphere.