The Axis means the angle between the two meridians of an astigmatic eye. Cylinder power is always written after sphere power in an eyeglass prescription. COPYRIGHT document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); ZENNI OPTICAL , INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. A minus (-) symbol next to this number means you're nearsighted, and a plus (+) symbol means the prescription is meant to correct farsightedness. If the axis changes by more than 90, you need to consult an eye specialist. United States In the context of an eye prescription, OD means right eye and OS means left eye. It is the amount of magnification required to "ADD" to the "SPH" value of your "Distance" prescription to correct your near vision. This indicates the required strength for the near prescription in your lens. If you are still unsure about entering your prescription details when ordering glasses online, make sure that you choose a supplier that offers an "Upload" or "Send Later" option. SPH is a '+' or '-' value in 0.25 steps and is required to correct your nearsightedness (-) or farsightedness (+). That is to say, the OD means the right eye and OS means the left eye. We may earn commissions if you purchase something via one of our links. Diopter is the measurement used for the strength of eyeglass lenses. Your eyeglass prescription contains other terms and abbreviations as well. Some eyeglass prescriptions may require a PD (pupillary distance) measurement. This number always has a (+) sign. The temple should be long enough to keep the frame securely in place without any pressure on your ears. 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. However, underneath the form, you will see a set of links under the heading "Click here if your prescription looks different to this form". If the number is negative (), it means it is correcting nearsightedness. What the values on your prescription mean. The axis is the astigmatism orientation. Sphere (SPH) and Cylinder (CYL) always have a (+) or (-) sign. The CYL stands for Cylinder. Consequently, 24 shown by the red line on the Continue Reading 10 Sponsored by Forbes Advisor Cylinder indicates the amount of lens power for astigmatism. The "Distance" row contains the values required to correct your distance vision for the respective eye. How to Measure your PD(Pupillary Distance), Choosing the Best Frames for Progressives, How to Replace Lenses in a Full-Rim Frame, How to Replace Lenses in a Half-Rim Frame. Please try again. The value may be as high as 10 and may go up in steps of or 1 Prism Dioptres. The three columns (from left to right) refer to Sphere (SPH), Cylinder (CYL) and Axis. Cyl = cylinder or the amount or power of the astigmatism correction. Cylinder: The cylinder (CYL) number indicates the . Sphere (SPH) and Cylinder (CYL) always have a (+) or (-) sign. Sphere, also known as degree or power, is the amount of single vision correction you need. BVD - Back Vertex Distance is the distance required from the front of your eye (cornea) to the back surface of the corrective lens. Vision Center is funded by our readers. Social cookies allow you to utilize social media features. I agree to Olives, How to Know If You Need Glasses? Well break down your prescription step-by-step. OD is your right eye. You must be logged in to manage your wishlist. Impact resistance and prescription compliance with AS/NZS 1337.6:2010. SPH is one of the parameters to report your eye prescription. When the person has no astigmatism, the perfect eye shows 0 diopters. Warby Parker has stylish, high-quality frames at affordable prices. Cylinder, abbreviated CYL, follows sphere power in your eyeglass prescription. These are needed to tell us how to shape the lens so that it can accurately align the wearers eyesight. If you require progressive lenses, your prescription willdisplay a value under the ADD (addition) column. This is especially handy as you can copy the values without having to make any calculations yourself. We aim to deliver within 1-7 days and we will always attempt to notify you of any delays. If the number appearing under this heading has a minus sign (), you are nearsighted; if the number has a plus sign (+) or is not preceded by a plus sign or a minus sign, you are farsighted. If you are farsighted, you will see a plus sign(+) next to the Sphere number. Conversely, if your prescription does not display a CYL value, you do not need an Axis value. On the eye prescription, CYL represents the cylinder correction part whether there is astigmatism or not. The cyl power has its axis at the 180 meridian, meaning the horizontal (180-degree) meridian of the eye has no added power for astigmatism and the vertical (90-degree) meridian gets the added -0.50 D. Both eyes are being prescribed an "add power" of +2.00 D for the correction of presbyopia, and this eyeglass prescription includes a prismatic correction of 0.5 prism diopter in each eye. If your glasses are for distance only, this will not be an issue. Kids' glasses and frames: A guide to fun children's eyewear. It will be a number between 1 and 180. What does SPH mean for glasses? If you are nearsighted, you will see there is a minus sign(-) next to the Sphere number. A sphero-cylindrical prescription (an Rx) for one eye consists of 3 parts, all written from left to right: [+/-Sphere]. You should also find a row of values provided for "Distance" and for "Near". This doctor has elected to add "SPH," to confirm the right eye is being prescribed only spherical power. Cylinder (CYL). 'Add' +2.50 - should be entered for both eyes). If you have an astigmatism, you will also have a corresponding "AXIS" value (see below).When no astigmatism correction is required the optician will leave the box blank. In some cases, the optician may write what appears to be a slash above the figure to indicate a "-" value.When no correction for SPH is required the optician will write "Plano", "", "0.00" or just leave the space blank. This means your lenses will be shaped to improve your distance vision. 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". (Some doctors will add "DS" for "diopters sphere;" others will leave this area blank.). A cylinder forms a focus 90 degrees to its axis. Michael is the content strategist and a lead content writer for Vision Center. An SPH number indicates if you are farsighted or nearsighted. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. What face shape best suits cat eye glasses? Screen time for kids: How much is too much? The CYL and AXIS compensate for an astigmatism. On the eye prescription, there are minus and plus signs in the cylinder column. 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). 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. Sometimes opticians use the word 'Add' or 'Near' instead of 'addition'. (Note that this is different than a contact lens prescription). The images below show some possible layouts of different prescriptions and how they would be entered on our website. 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. The measurement is Prism Dioptre. Astigmatism correction is not spherical. OS is an abbreviation of the Latin oculus sinister which means left eye. Each spectacle lens will have an optical centre, this is a point on the lens where it performs the best and has the least distortion. If your prescription includes a BVD, it is important that the lenses sit at the correct distance to ensure comfortable vision. You can view our cookie policy here. The Zenni Optical website says I need that bit, but all it let's you input are positive or negative numbers, I can't write in SPH even if I knew what it mean. You qualify for free shipping in the US! What face shape best suits round glasses? In the following picture, you can see an eye prescription. CYL, or cylinder, refers to the amount of astigmatism correction you need. The ADD value is also referred to as a "Near Addition" or "Reading Addition". What is a contact lens eye exam and fitting? Cylinder power always follows Sphere power in an eyeglass prescription. This format is less common in the US. If you need a pair of glasses, the KoalaeyeOptical may be a good choice for you. The AXIS is only present if there is a value in the CYL box, the AXIS tells us where the astigmatism is on your eye. The measurement is the Dioptre, and most values range from +0.50 to +3.50 and will go up in steps of 0.25. The BVD stands for Back Vertex Distance, this is a measurement that is included on any prescription where the sphere or cylinder powers are higher than + or - 5.00D and to a lesser extent some prescriptions where it is less than this power. Dist, refers to distance, this is the prescription required to correct distance vision. What does 1.50 mean on glasses? For a full 12 months from dispatch date we will repair or replace any frames with a manufacturing fault. This correction is often used for driving, television and general wear (walking around). How to choose the best lenses for your glasses, Photochromic lenses: Glasses that adjust to light, Special eyewear: Safety, driving and computer glasses, How to pick the right glasses for your face shape, Reading glasses: A buying guide for readers, Choosing glasses for your style and personality, Glasses size: A guide to eyeglasses frame size, Best places to buy eyeglasses/where to buy glasses, Why prescription sunglasses are a smart choice, How to prevent eye damage with UV sunglasses, Choosing the best sunglasses for your kids, The pros and cons of daily disposable contact lenses, Contact lens care: How to clean and store soft contacts, Understanding your contact lens prescription, Choosing the right coloured contact lenses, Contact lens tips: A user guide with expert advice. These are the abbreviations that denote to Oculus Dexter and oculus sinister in Latin and mean left eye and right eye. The second prescription shows the patients complete distance prescription for the right and left eye followed by a reading addition value of +2.25. "How to Read Your Eyeglass Prescription. All frame measurements can be found in the details tab on our product pages. BO=Base Out, BI=Base In, BU=Base Up, and BD (or BDn)=Base Down. On some rare occasions, you may find an AXIS value with a decimal place or fraction. The number 90 corresponds to the vertical meridian of the eye, and the number 180 corresponds to the horizontal meridian. Prescribing spectacles: reasons for failure of spectacle lens acceptance. Different Prescriptions and How to Enter Your Values On Our Site. In addition, you will see the initials OD and OS written on your eye prescription. OOPS! The numbers are from 1 to 180 in the axis part of the eye prescription. Plano, Infinity, 0.00, - Basically 0.00 or no correction is required for that part of the prescription. i'm considering online since I need 1.74 hi-index and that can run expensive even in online stores, and a lot of local shops around me only offer up to 1.67. why isn't online a good idea? The cylinder is the indication of the condition, astigmatism, in which the cornea is shaped irregularly causing distorted or blurred vision. Msg frequency may vary. Here are some common prescription types to help you navigate yours. CYL is the amount of astigmatism correction you need, and Axis determines the lens angle required to correct your astigmatism. 2000-2023 AAV Media, LLC. Knowing how to read an eyeglass prescription is essential! This ensures that they can see clearly in class; poor vision can seriously impact a childs learning. If there is no number written under the CYL part, this means you are free from astigmatism and need no eye contact. The term sphere refers to the fact that distance vision correction is spherical, or equal in all meridians of the eye. Progressive For multi-focal glasses, as well as reading and computer glasses, your Rx will include an ADD or NV value. Add, Near Add, Reading Addition - These all relate to your reading addition and can be written anywhere on the prescription. This correction is often used for reading, sewing and any detailed close work. All Opticians and Doctors worldwide work to the same procedures when writing a prescription, which can be printed or written in a similar fashion to this sample prescription. Most values range from 0.00 to +/- 20.00 and go up in steps of 0.25. The ADD value is also referred to as a "Near Addition" or "Reading Addition". The Axis in your prescription is usually measured from 1 to 180. Most values range from 0.00 to +/- 20.00 and go up in steps of 0.25. Those individuals having 1.5 or more diopters will definitely need to use eyeglasses in order to correct the vision. In SPH, the minus sign is the indication of nearsightedness (far away objects are blurred). GogglesNMore All Rights Reserved. For more help finding your perfect pair of glasses, see our complete Size Guide. If your SPH value is -1.00, you are nearsighted. This is only present if your eyes do not focus well together as a pair, such as in strabismus (eye turn). CYL (Cylinder)CYL is a + or - value in 0.25 steps and is required to correct your astigmatism. The number marked axis describes the orientation of astigmatism. Checkout now! [+/-Cylinder].axis [some angle between 0 and 180 degrees]. You should have a number under the CYL column too. Keep your prescription up to date so these numbers can accurately reflect your visual needs. What is CYL in glasses? On your eyeglasses prescription, the information for your right eye (OD) comes before the information for your left eye (OS). 6. 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. All About Vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC. This is the most common format with clearly printed fields for OD, OS, SPH, CYL, etc. ADD, or addition, refers to the amount of magnifying power you would need in multifocal lenses to see closer objects, like a book. The values range between 0 and 180 and may go up in steps of , 1, 5 or 10 degrees, we only show the AXIS to a whole number but if you have a degree on your prescription you can list this in the additional information box when ordering. This article will help you decipher all parts of your prescription and discuss it knowledgeably with an optician or when you buy eyeglasses online. In other words, because eyeglasses and contact lenses have different distances from your eyes, the amount of correctionneeded is also different. The two rows refer to your right (OD) and left (OS) eyeswith the right eye always on the upper row. Typically, youll see several abbreviations and words labeling all of the important data on your prescription. That means that you have no astigmatism to correct in that eye. To make a purchase on our Canadian site, you'll need to create a separate account. Now you know the ABCs and the ODs and OSs of your eyeglass prescription, so you can make sense of your eyeglass prescription. 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 means that a person can see the object clearly at 20 feet. In nearsightedness, the person can see those objects clearly which are near to him but the far objects are blurry. For multi-focal glasses, as well as reading and computer glasses, your Rx will include an ADD or NV value. 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. A prescription for someone who is farsighted will feature a number with a plus (+) symbol in the sphere box. The number 90 means the vertical meridian of the eye and the number 180 means the horizontal meridian. But what exactly do all these abbreviations and numbers mean? BVD- Back Vertex Distance is the distance required from the front of your eye (cornea) to the back surface of the corrective lens. It does not matter whether the correction is of farsightedness or nearsightedness; it is always in spherical form. You can simply select the values that match your prescription. Near is the prescription to correct near vision and may appear in full, or as an additional power (ADD) to the distance. The axis is defined with a number from 1 to 180. You've probably asked yourself many times, what does my glasses prescription mean? What is Cylinder in glasses? Newer Post . Consent is not a condition of purchase. What does sphere cylinder and axis mean? A Prism is to try and correct a lazy eye and indicates a more delicate condition, this is included with a prescription to correct some special conditions or some eye disorders (like squints) that require the focussed image to move position. What Do The Values On Your Prescription Mean? An eye prescription specifies the values needed for your corrective eyewear. The BASE value will be displayed as BU or UP (Base UP), BD or DOWN (Base DOWN), BI or IN (Base IN) or BO or OUT (Base OUT). CYL is good to know because it tells how light refracts on the eyes retina. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. 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. Axis - If an eyeglass prescription includes cylinder power, it also must include an axis value, which follows the CYL power. Common Abbreviations That Appear on Your Prescription. They are abbreviations foroculus dexterandoculus sinister, which are Latin terms for right eye and left eye. A contact lens prescription can only be obtained from a contact lens consultation and fitting. The lens power amount is, therefore, measured in D (diopters) for farsightedness or nearsightedness. Did you get confused? Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. What is pupillary distance (PD) and how do you measure it? Worried about the wrong fit? ADD is always a positive number and ranges from +0.75 to +3.00 for most people. This is the abbreviation for the Latin termoculus uterque, which means "both eyes.". This number always has a (+) sign. What Do the Abbreviations on My Glasses Prescription Mean? In astigmatism, the curvature of the eye is imperfect. In SPH, plus sign is an indication of which condition? Our entire range of mens prescription designer glasses. Some eye doctors have modernized this and replaced OD with RE (right eye) and OS with LE. Best Place to Buy Contacts: 1800 Contacts. Generally, it will range from +0.75 to +3.00 D and will be the same power for both eyes. Cylinder axes range from 0 to 180, and are based on a hemispheric protractor. For example, "1.5" or 1. The PRISM value will also be followed by a directional value (see BASE below). Enter your email address to make it happen. Your prescription will usually contain the following: Your optometrist or ophthalmologist will perform an eye examination to determine these values. A glasses prescription can be displayed in a number of ways. If not, keep on your reading and you will find the full explanations in the following part. A survey of the criteria for prescribing in cases of borderline refractive errors. The Sphere is also used to correct the nearsightedness or farsightedness. Sphere means the spherical correction where the meridians of the human eye are equal. The number in the cylinder column may be preceded with a minus sign (for the correction of nearsighted astigmatism) or a plus sign (for farsighted astigmatism). Our entire range of mens glasses suitable for varifocal lenses. On the other hand, if your SPH value is +1.00, you are farsighted and need correction for seeing closer objects. These will usually be specific types of corrective lens recommendations such as multifocal lenses, progressives, anti-reflective coating, photochromatic, or transition lenses. If not, keep on your reading and you will find the full explanations in the following part. Most of our prescription orders take about three days to complete. If the optometrist wrote "DS" or "Sph" or "Spherical" in the Cylinder space, it indicates no correction and should be entered as 0 on the order form. For example: "+2.25 ADD" or "Add +2.25". Traditional eyeglasses are usually single vision lenses with one pre Metal frames are suitable for wearing. They may also enter an abbreviation "DS" (Dioptre Spheres). This is always "+" value in 0.25 steps. This extra power will ALWAYS be the same for each eye and may only appear once on your prescription but it is understood to be meant for both eyes. Our entire range of womens glasses suitable for varifocal lenses. Plano, Infinity, 0.00- Basically 0.00 or no correction is required for that part of the prescription. 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. When the shape of the human eye cornea changes, the large changes in the measurement of the axis is seen though, this is rare. OD is short for the Latin term oculus dexter which means right eye. In SPH, the plus sign is the indication of farsightedness (near objects are blurred). The "Near" row or "Near Addition" contains the information required to correct your near vision. 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. If you have been provided with a BVD value ensure to enter it into the additional information or comments box provided with any online prescription forms. The Sphere is also used to correct the nearsightedness or farsightedness. The measurement is the Dioptre. Yes, I would like to be notified by email about this product, and to receive emails from Olive with the latest deals, sales, and updates. Page published on Thursday, 21 February, 2019. Your sph +4.00 means that the concave sphere with no astigmatism belongs to the hyperopia 400 prescription. They can also be written anywhere on the prescription. You can then go ahead and enter the prescription as follows: By clicking the link Need Help? Cylindrical correction means that one meridian has no added power, while the meridian perpendicular to it has the maximum lens curvature and power added to it. What does SPH DS mean? What Is The Difference Between A Retinal Tear And A Retinal Detachment? Similarly, the values concerning the correction of your left eye may be indicated as "LE", "Left", "Left Eye" or "OS" which is an abbreviation for Oculus Sinister, the Latin term for "Left Eye". Sphere, sometimes abbreviated as SPH, indicates the amount of lens power needed to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness. If you are due for new eyeglasses in Clermont, contact Pennachio Eye at 325-227-1999 . It will be a number between 1 and 180. EyeBuyDirect has a wide variety of budget frames starting at $6. Astigmatism relates to an issue in the curvature of yourcorneathat causes blurred distance and near vision, especially at night. SPH, or sphere, refers to the amount of correction needed for nearsightedness or farsightedness. In this case, the eye doctor has prescribed -2.00 D sphere for the correction of myopia in the right eye (OD). OS -1.00 -0.50 x 180 +2.00 add 0.5 p.d. You're currently shopping our United States site. What Does SPH mean? Nowadays, most of us wear glasses and most of us just take the prescription to the optical store to pick out a pair of glasses. 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). How to Measure Your PD with A Regular Ruler. When you hold the prescription, have you ever been curious to know what the number and letters mean for your eyesight? Cylinder ( CYL) Cylinder indicates the amount of lens power for astigmatism. This measurement is important as it explains at what distance your lenses should sit from your eyes. 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). If you have an astigmatism, you will find a "+" or "-" value in this box. When no correction for SPH is required the optician will write "Plano", "", "0.00" or just leave the space blank. Essentially, OD means right eye, and OS means left eye. Sphere refers to the power of your lens (measured in dioptre units) to correct the degree of short or long sight you have. 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. However, there are other parameters, such as CYL which means the astigmatism part and AX which means the axis position in the astigmatism. There is no astigmatism correction for this eye, so no cylinder power or axis is noted. When we look at the eye prescription written by our consultant, different questions come to mind. Our entire range of womens prescription designer glasses. Sphere, often written as SPH, means that the correction for nearsightedness or farsightedness is spherical, equal in all meridians of the eye. Free Express Shipping and 30-Day Returns Worldwide. When you hold the prescription, have you ever been curious to know what the number and letters mean for your eyesight? Sphere: The sphere (SPH) on your prescription indicates the lens power you need to see clearly. What does VD mean on eye prescription? If the number is positive (+), it is correcting farsightedness. Astigmatism is often present at birth, but it can develop, or become more severe, as you get older. If you see the "sph" in the "cyl" box . An AXIS will only be found on your prescription if there is a CYL value for the same eye. Terms of sale Learn about LASIK success rates and side effects, Learn about the costs associated with LASIK, Benefits of LASIK for astigmatism correction, How to find vision insurance that covers LASIK, Compare PRK and LASIK procedures and results, 14 tips for protecting your vision after LASIK. Do you know the meaning of the Sphere, Cylinder and Axis? 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. 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. The numbers on your eyeglass prescription describe precisely how your glasses lenses should be cut. What does that mean. . Let's use an example to understand things better. There will also be a number in the axis column thats needed for astigmatism correction. Melody Huang is an optometrist and freelance health writer. When shes not working, Dr. Huang loves reviewing new skin care products, trying interesting food recipes, or hanging with her adopted cats. If this column is blank, it means you have no astigmatism. You may also have a column labeled OU, which means oculus uterque, or both eyes. If nothing appears in the Cylinder column, it indicates that you have no astigmatism, or your astigmatism is so light that there is no need to correct it with the eyeglass lenses.