Understanding your prescription

There are 3 Types of Powers

Power Type Website Form

Type 1: Spherical (SPH) Only Power

60% people have only spherical (SPH) power with no Cylinder (CYL) and Axis (AXIS)

Note: For making these specs, we do not need other information of your prescription such as 6/6 or 6/4 or PD (pupillary distance)

Type 2: Spherical with Cylinder (CYL) Power

30% people also have a CYL power. Cylinder is an angular defect and it is prescribed with two variables – CYL and AXIS. If you have a CYL, you will have an AXIS, else none.



Note: For making these specs, we do not need other information of your prescription such as 6/6 or 6/4 or PD (pupillary distance)

Type 3: Bifocal / Progressive Power

This is for people who have both distance and near vision problem. 10% of people have this. And only if you want both powers in one specs, you need to go for this option. This power has a new variable “ADD” (Additional Power) which specifies the near spherical power.

In case you want only near power, you can fill in ADD value in Type 1 above. In case you want only far power in specs, you can again go for Type 1 or 2 above without the ADD power.

Note: For making these specs accurately, we need PD (pupillary distance),

If you have only one PD value above 50, then please divide that by 2 & fill in both

eyes equally. For example for 64 PD value, we have filled 32 and 32.

In case doctor has specified these separately for each eye, you can fill them separately.


Different Ways of Writing Bifocal Power

This is a standard bifocal prescription:

It would be written as follows (note that Pupillary Distance would be added (a number between 27-43) based on the prescription):

Secondary Style of Bifocal:

- This time the signs have been written ABOVE the numbers - they are still just standard +/- signs

- Also, they optician has written 125 instead of 1.25. It should still be entered as '1.25' with a decimal point

- There is only one value for Near ADD, this should be entered for both eyes

It would be written as follows:

Another style:

It would be written as follows:


If your prescription is quite complicated, simply choose to upload it under the upload your prescription or choose to have oneof our optical experts call you for the power under the "Need Help" Section.