HOW TO READ YOUR EYE PRESCRIPTION
If you can't read your eyeglasses prescription, do not worry. Here are some guides to make you understand your prescription.
When you go for an eye examination your optometrist or ophthalmologist gives you an eye prescription. This prescription tells you how much power is needed to correct your vision. It might look difficult at first but can easily understand what all those abbreviated terms and numbers mean.
A List For Eye Prescription Abbreviations-
- R.E/O.D. stands for Right Eye or Oculus Dexter
- L.E/O.S. stands for Left Eye or Oculus Sinister
- O.U. stands for Oculi Uterque for both Eyes
- PD means Pupillary Distance
- DV stands for Distance Vision
- NV stands for Near Vision
Now Let's Know The Terms Which Describe The Power Of The Lenses.
SPH(Sphere) - The term sphere indicates the amount of lens power prescribed to correct the vision for nearsightedness or farsightedness. A sphere is basically a measure of how strong your prescription needs to be. It is used for the correction of myopia and hyperopia. It is measured in Diopter. The value can be different for both eyes.
CYL(Cylindrical)- Cylindrical power is given when the cornea of the eye is irregularly curved. Cylindrical power corrects your Astigmatism. Astigmatism is not a disease it just means you have a cylinder power. Cylinder power always comes with an Axis. Cylindrical power is always written after spherical power in prescription. It is measured in Diopter.
Axis - Axis shows how much Degree is needed to accurately correct the Astigmatism of an eye. It is measured in Degree. It has a value from 1 to 180. If a prescription has Cylinder power, it also must include an Axis value.
ADD(ADDITION)- Add number is the power that needs to be added to the prescription for reading and other close work. It is used in Bifocal glasses, reading glasses, or progressive glasses. It is applied on the bottom of the multifocal lenses to magnify your near vision.
P.D.(Pupillary Distance)- P.D. means the distance from the center of the pupil of one eye to the center of the pupil of another eye. P.D. is measured with two methods one is Singular P.D.(It is the measure of an individual eye for e.g. 32 and 33 )and Dual P.D.(It is the measure of both eyes e.g. 64).