'Sphere' is basically a measure of how strong your prescription needs to be. Medically Reviewed by Dr. Melody Huang, O.D. What Do the Abbreviations on My Glasses Prescription Mean? Inter, refers to intermediate, this is the prescription required to correct intermediate vision, and may appear in full, or as an additional power (ADD) to the distance. These are the abbreviations that denote to Oculus Dexter and oculus sinister in Latin and mean left eye and right eye. The axis depicts the angle between two meridians. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. CYL, or cylinder, refers to the amount of astigmatism correction you need. Here at Spex4Less, you will find both of these options directly above the prescription form. This instructs the person making your glasses to use a lens of similar weight to balance out the frame. All frame measurements can be found in the details tab on our product pages. Prism powers will always be accompanied with a direction which is usually seen as a base diresction such as IN, OUT, UP and DOWN; for example; Prism 2.00 Base IN. After reading this post, you may have gotten the answers. The information on this free-form prescription is usually handwritten. That is to say, the OD means the right eye and OS means the left eye. Sphere: The sphere (SPH) on your prescription indicates the lens power you need to see clearly. For example: "+2.25 ADD" or "Add +2.25". The number under the OD and OS measurement in your prescription is measured in diopters. On the off chance that the number showing up under this heading has a short sign . 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. What is a contact lens eye exam and fitting? In the eye prescription, there are some important elements you need to know including Sphere, Cylinder, and Axis. Naturally, a prescription will contain values for the correction of both of your eyes. Is 20/20 or 6 by 6 vision perfect eyesight? The term "sphere" means that the correction for nearsightedness or farsightedness is "spherical," or equal in all meridians of the eye. It would be entered on our website as below: Our online prescription form initially displays the most common format, Distance with a Near Add. 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. Click here if your prescription looks different to this form. as shown in the image below. The number under 'cylinder' provides the lens power needed to correct the astigmatism. If the glasses help to improve the vision, then the person is not legally blind. SPH is the abbreviation for the word sphere. For more help finding your perfect pair of glasses, see our complete Size Guide. 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. There are two vision conditions, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. (See Different ways in which a prescription can be displayed below). But keep in mind, all eyewear is different, so its just a general reference. In the second part, we will explain what the Cylinder in glasses is. The axis is the astigmatism orientation. Your prescription may have a base column, or it may be included in the same column as prism this gives further information about the required prism correction, telling us the orientation needed in the lens. Cylinder power always follows Sphere power in an eyeglass prescription. Common abbreviations that appear on your prescription. 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). CYL is a + or - value in 0.25 steps and is required to correct your astigmatism. For example: (+2.00) + (+2.25) = (+4.25). Children should have their first eye exam when they are around six months old, and then another just before they start school. ADD, or addition, refers to the amount of magnifying power you would need in multifocal lenses to see closer objects, like a book. The "ADD" value may be written in the "Near Addition" space on your prescription. Most values range from 0.00 to +/- 20.00 and go up in steps of 0.25. You're currently shopping our United States site. 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. The number marked axis describes the orientation of astigmatism. Click here if your prescription looks different to this form. like in the example above, you can toggle the form to enable you to enter an inter add as below; Balance- No values are required. The images below show some possible layouts of different prescriptions and how they would be entered on our website. In other words, because eyeglasses and contact lenses have different distances from your eyes, the amount of correctionneeded is also different. When you hold the prescription, have you ever been curious to know what the number and letters mean for your eyesight? Please try again. A glasses prescription can be displayed in a number of ways. Sphere means the spherical correction where the meridians of the human eye are equal. The interesting fact is that if the prescription of eyeglass includes the main cylinder power, it is important to include the axis value along with it so that it follows the power of CYL. Axis: An axis number will also be included if you have an astigmatism. This means that a person can see the object clearly at 20 feet. Our entire range of womens glasses suitable for varifocal lenses. The size is not dangerous or bad, but the number associated with it (ex: Size: small, medium, large, extra-large etc.) Youll often see this terms on eyeglass prescriptions. However, many opticians will simply write the value somewhere under, or next to, the distance values. The numbers on your eyeglass prescription describe precisely how your glasses lenses should be cut. What if my prescription does not follow the format on your website? If you are due for new eyeglasses in Clermont, contact Pennachio Eye at 325-227-1999 . What is segment height and how do you measure it? Subscribe to our newsletter for KOALAEYE style news, 2022 KOALAEYE OPTICAL. CYL (Cylinder) CYL is a '+' or '-' value in 0.25 steps and is required to correct your astigmatism. You should have a number under the CYL column too. When you enter your prescription during checkout, please select "Not Applicable" for all Cylinder and Axis fields, thank you. They can also be written anywhere on the prescription. You may also have a column labeled OU, which means oculus uterque, or both eyes. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. A nearsighted prescription will feature a number with a minus (-) symbol in the sphere box. Your prescription will usually contain the following: Your optometrist or ophthalmologist will perform an eye examination to determine these values. This is the amount of prismatic power, measured in prism diopters ("p.d." Knowing what they mean will also help you more easily discuss your prescription with your eye care professional. These include: Sphere indicates the amount of lens power, measured in diopters(D), prescribed to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness. If this is the case, your prescription will display SPH, CYL & AXIS values in both the "Distance" and "Near" sections of the prescription. Unlike typical Rx formats, with values going from left to right, the vertical Rx values are listed top to bottom. In the following picture, you can see an eye prescription. If you cant make sense of your eyeglass prescription, youre not alone. Your sph +4.00 means that the concave sphere with no astigmatism belongs to the hyperopia 400 prescription. The measurement is the Dioptre. 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. In eye prescription, what does CYL means? If nothing appears in this column, either you have no astigmatism, or your astigmatism is so slight that it is not really necessary to correct it with your eyeglass lenses. The CYL basically represents the main differences in the weakest as well as greatest eye powers which are usually separated by degrees (90). An AXIS will only be found on your prescription if there is a CYL value for the same eye. If this column is blank, it means you dont have an astigmatism. Only one meridian will be adjusted to fix your astigmatism. This instructs the person making your glasses to use a lens of similar weight to balance out the frame. What are blue-light-blocking glasses and how do they work? Sphere (SPH) - The term "sphere" means that the correction for nearsightedness or farsightedness is spherical, equal in all meridians of the eye. Alternatively, you may have a row for "Distance" and a space provided for a "Near Addition" or "Reading Addition". A number between +/-.025 to +/-2.00 is considered mild, a number between +/-2.25 to +/- 5.00 is considered moderate, and a number greater than +/- 5.00 is considered severe. Free Gifts with Purchases Over $100 | Learn More. Most values range from 0.00 to +/- 20.00 and go up in steps of 0.25. They may also enter an abbreviation "DS" (Dioptre Spheres) or "SPH" (Sphere) indicating that the correction required is spherical only. or a superscript triangle when written freehand), prescribed to compensate for eye alignment problems. The base value will show either in or out, or up and down, indicating the direction the prism should be angled. Eyeglass prescriptions may have several components, including sphere, cylinder, and axis. This post will explain them one by one. This is a common question when the person who consults eye specialists encountered the eye prescription. The axis is the orientation of the cylinder when looking at an eye. What Do The Values On Your Prescription Mean? Essentially this means correction for Astigmatism is not required for the prescription being considered. The number appearing in this section of the prescription is always a "plus" power, even if it is not preceded by a plus sign. 2023 Lensmartonline.com.All rights reserved, FREE SHIPPING FOR ORDER OVER $65 (REMOTE AREA NOT COVERED) / Buy 1,Get Other Frames 50% Off(Not eligible for frames under $10). This is always "+" value in 0.25 steps. When you enter your prescription during checkout, please select "Not Applicable" for all Cylinder and Axis fields, thank you. What is pupillary distance (PD) and how do you measure it? This indicates the amount of lens power, measured in diopters (D), prescribed to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness. 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. The 20/20 vision is the correct vision for normal eyes. The cylinder is the indication of the condition, astigmatism, in which the cornea is shaped irregularly causing distorted or blurred vision. This indicates the amount of lens power, measured in diopters (D), prescribed to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness. This number shows the angle of the lens that shouldnt feature a cylinder power to correct your astigmatism. What does VD mean on eye prescription? Privacy, Eye Testing and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). The type of Rx glasses may be noted on a prescription, such as DV [Distance Vision/nearsightedness] and NV [Near Vision/reading]. Youll typically find the abbreviates OD and OS on the left side of your prescription. When you visit the opticians for an eye test you will receive a written copy of your prescription. Do not worry about entering your prescription details online. You must be logged in to manage your wishlist. Older Post Your optician may or may not write DS (Dioptres Sphere) in the CYL box. SPH stands for spherical power and describes the degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness. The sphere is measured in Dioptre's, your prescription may have the word Plano or Pl or an infinity sign, this means that you are neither long nor short sighted but zero power for the Sphere, however you may have astigmatism - a CYL and AXIS on your prescription. When no correction for SPH is required the optician will write "Plano", "", "0.00" or just leave the space blank. Add, Near Add, Reading Addition- These all relate to your reading addition and can be written anywhere on the prescription. Best Place to Buy Contacts: 1800 Contacts. If not, keep on your reading and you will find the full explanations in the following part. Spex4less and SPEX4LESS are registered trademarks of Fashion Specs Direct Limited. All About Vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC. Theplus (+) orminus (-) sign before SPH indicates whether you are nearsighted or farsighted. For more information, please see our. Whats more, if an eyeglass prescription includes cylinder power, it also must include an Axis value, which follows the CYL power. OD is short for the Latin term oculus dexter which means right eye. Can someone help me out here? 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". This stands for cylinder, and it refers to the strength of the lenses needed to correct your astigmatism. The sphere is measured in Dioptres, your prescription may have the word Plano or Pl or an infinity sign, this means that you are neither long nor short sighted but zero power for the Sphere, however you may have astigmatism a CYL and AXIS on your prescription. It indicates the amount of lens power needed to correct astigmatism, measured in diopters. It will be a number between 1 and 180. If your prescription indicates a CYL value, you must have a corresponding Axis value. 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. If you require progressive lenses, your prescription willdisplay a value under the ADD (addition) column. SMILE eye surgery: Small Incision Lenticule Extraction, PRK laser eye surgery: How it differs from LASIK, LASIK surgery: A complete guide for what to expect, How to choose the right glasses for face shape, Glasses size measurements: A guide to eyeglasses frame size. Melody Huang is an optometrist and freelance health writer. Knowing how to read an eyeglass prescription is essential! For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. What is SPH in a Glasses Prescription? They can also be written anywhere on the prescription. If for any reason you are not satisfied with your order, we will replace or exchange your glasses/lenses. It is usually separated by 90 degrees. When we look at the eye prescription written by our consultant, different questions come to mind. They may mention that you have either of the following: They probably gave you an eyeglasses prescription that looks something like this: These are all crucial pieces of information when getting your eyewear. Different prescriptions and how to enter your values on our site. Social cookies allow you to utilize social media features. The less common prism Rx refers to the amount of prismatic power needed to compensate for eye alignment issues (e.g., double vision or lazy eye). Designed in Singapore for diverse tastes (and noses). By subscribing to Eyebuydirect text messaging on 81096, you agree to receive recurring autodialed marketing text msgs to the mobile number used at opt-in. With our 14-Day Fit & Style Guarantee, you can request a refund or exchange a new pair, hassle-free! 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. Consequently, 24 shown by the red line on the Continue Reading 10 Sponsored by Forbes Advisor OS -1.00 -0.50 x 180 +2.00 add 0.5 p.d. Sphere, Cylinder, and Axis on Eye Prescriptions. Newer Post . They are abbreviations foroculus dexterandoculus sinister, which are Latin terms for right eye and left eye. The bridge width will make sure your eyewear rest comfortably on the bridge of your nose, measuring the distance from the innermost point on each lens. A minus (-) symbol next to this number means you're nearsighted, and a plus (+) symbol means the prescription is meant to correct farsightedness. If you see a negative value (-) that means your child is nearsighted. This is why you need to go to a local optician, not buy online. The measurement is in Degrees. This number is always positive, even if it doesnt have a plus sign (+) in front of it. E.g. In the context of an eye prescription. The term sphere refers to the fact that distance vision correction is spherical, or equal in all meridians of the eye. Cylinder (CYL) Cylinder indicates the amount of lens power needed for astigmatism. So what's an astigmatism? Find an eyecare professional and book online in minutes! Axis - If an eyeglass prescription includes cylinder power, it also must include an axis value, which follows the CYL power. This indicates that your lens should be shaped to correct near vision. This article will help you decipher all parts of your prescription and discuss it knowledgeably with an optician or when you buy eyeglasses online. Do a "deep search" instead. Prism is used to correct eye alignment issues and can be a metric or fraction value. The Pupillary distance is an essential measurement. An eye prescription specifies the values needed for your corrective eyewear. OD is your right eye. The cylinder is the indication of the condition, astigmatism, in which the cornea is shaped irregularly causing distorted or blurred vision. When shes not working, Dr. Huang loves reviewing new skin care products, trying interesting food recipes, or hanging with her adopted cats. The sphere portion is a Continue Reading 6 1 Sponsored by TruthFinder Have you ever googled yourself? This correction is often used for driving, television and general wear (walking around). ; values are usually entered with computer, but may be handwritten by doctor. Our entire range of mens prescription designer glasses. The number under 'cylinder' provides the lens power needed to correct the astigmatism. How to Measure Your PD with A Regular Ruler. In astigmatism, the curvature of the eye is imperfect. However, for complex prescriptions, such as when your SPH or CYL values fall beyond theaverage range, prescription orders can take up to9 days to complete because optical labs will need tomake custom-edgedlenses for you. A survey of the criteria for prescribing in cases of borderline refractive errors. 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. The Axis in your prescription is usually measured from 1 to 180. ODstands for oculus dexter, the Latin term for right eye., OS is your left eye. However, there are other parameters, such as CYL which means the astigmatism part and AX which means the axis position in the astigmatism. When people talk about their eye degree or power, they are usually referring to their SPH value. At first glance, the details may seem quite confusing. What is CYL in glasses? Single vision lenses vs progressive lenses. Now that you understand those mysterious letters and numbers, you know how to read a glasses prescription! There is no astigmatism correction for this eye, so no cylinder power or axis is noted.