Understanding Your Prescription

When it comes to eyeglasses, your prescription contains all the important details needed to correct your vision. Let’s break it down into simple terms so you can easily understand what it means and what type of lenses you might need.

Types of Powers in a Prescription

1. Spherical (SPH) Power Only

   • This is the most common type of power. It helps with either nearsightedness (difficulty seeing far) or farsightedness (difficulty seeing close).
   • 60% of people have only this power.

2. Spherical (SPH) + Cylinder (CYL) Power

   • This is for those with astigmatism, a condition where the eye’s shape causes blurry or distorted vision.
   • Cylinder power comes with an AXIS value, which indicates the angle of correction.
   • 30% of people have this combination.

3. Bifocal / Progressive Power

   • This is for individuals who have both distance and near vision problems. It combines both powers in one pair of glasses.
   • An extra value called ADD (Additional Power) specifies the strength for near vision.
   • 10% of people need this type of power.

Key Notes for Filling Your Prescription

• For simple SPH or CYL powers, you don’t need to worry about Pupillary Distance (PD) or additional variables.
• For bifocal or progressive lenses, you’ll need to provide your PD value for accurate lens creation.
• If your PD is a single value (e.g., 64), divide it equally for both eyes (e.g., 32 and 32).

Different Ways of Writing Bifocal Power

Bifocal prescriptions can be written in multiple formats, but the essential information remains the same. Here’s how they might appear:

1. Standard Format

   • Each eye is listed separately with values for SPH, CYL (if present), AXIS, and ADD.
   • Example:
     • Right Eye (OD): +1.50 / -0.75 x 90 | ADD +2.00
     • Left Eye (OS): +1.25 / -0.50 x 80 | ADD +2.00

2. Signs Written Above Numbers

   • In this format, the signs (+ or -) are written above the numbers instead of beside them.
   • Example::
     • Right Eye (OD): ⬆+1.50 / -0.75 x 90 | ADD +2.00

3. Near ADD Listed Separately

   • Instead of listing ADD for each eye, it might be written once for both eyes.
   • Example::
     • Right Eye (OD): +1.50 / -0.75 x 90
     • Left Eye (OS): +1.25 / -0.50 x 80
     • ADD: +2.00

Need Help?

If your prescription seems complicated or unclear:

• You can upload your prescription, and we’ll handle it for you.
• Use our “Need Help” section, and one of our experts will guide you step by step.

With this understanding, you can confidently choose the right lenses for your vision needs!