So, you’ve just had your eye examination and you’ve received your prescription; that’s great! But hang fire; you’ve been handed a piece of paper bearing your prescription and it makes absolutely no sense to you. What do all these numbers and terms on your prescription actually mean?

Your Prescription – Things to Consider

One important thang to remember is that you are entitled to a free copy of your prescription. Most opticians will happily hand this over upon completion of your eye exam, but there may be those who are less willing to comply. Remember, you should never be refused a copy of your prescription, nor should you have to pay extra to receive it.

Another thing to remember is that you do not have to purchase glasses from your optician. You are free to purchase from another retailer or online. This means that you won’t have to pay over the odds for designer frames such as Oakley prescription glasses and Polo Ralph Lauren glasses. 

Your Prescription – Know Your Numbers

To the untrained eye, a prescription might appear to be nothing more than a random collection of words and numbers laid out neatly in a table. However, it is this information that will allow you to improve your vision through glasses. 

Getting to grips with these numbers will allow you to purchase your glasses online. Each number is crucial in order for you to correctly input your order. 

Your Prescription – Know Your Terminology

An eye prescription is a series of numbers for your right eye and your left eye. These are indicated by ‘R’ and ‘L’. Lens measurements are made in units known as dioptres and all numbers are written in 0.25  increments.

Occasionally, Latin terminology may be used. However, don’t let this phase you, as we’ve provided a simple translation below:

  • OS – (Oculus Sinister) for the left eye
  • OD – (Oculus Dextrous) for the right eye

If you’re struggling to come to terms with the terminology printed on your prescription, here’s a simple breakdown to help you.

SPH – (Sphere):

This box will contain a ‘+’ or ‘– ‘symbol before the number. The + indicates that you are long-sighted, while the – indicates that you are short-sighted.

The number refers to the power of the lens. The higher the number, the stronger the prescription lens needs to be.

CYL – (Cylinder):

This refers to a condition called an ‘astigmatism’. This is caused by an irregular (often rugby ball-shaped) cornea. The higher the number, the more irregular the shape of your eye. If you have perfectly rounded eyes, this box will be left blank.

AXIS:

The axis is the number which relates to astigmatism. This will be a number between one and 180 degrees and determines how much correction is required.

Prism:

This indicates that there is a muscle imbalance between your eyes, suggesting that they do not work in tandem with one another. This number – the prism correction – will correct the imbalance and prevent double vision from occurring.

Base:

Relating to the prism, this indicates the position of the lens.

ADD:

If you require a reading addition, you’ll need to include this number, as ‘add’ means reading addition. This number is usually more prominent on the prescriptions of those over the age of 45, as the eyes lose their ability to focus correctly as we age.

If you have an ‘add’ number, it means that you will require two types of lenses – for distance and for reading.

Put Your Knowledge to Good Use

Now you know all there is to know about your prescription, why not treat yourself to a new pair of glasses? Head to www.onlineopticiansuk.com to check out a wide range of budget and designer frames. Choose from leading brands and buy yourself a new pair of Oakley, Polo, Ray-Ban or Emporio Armani prescription glasses.