An eye prescription specifies the values needed for your corrective eyewear. (See Different ways in which a prescription can be displayed below). SPH is the abbreviation for the word sphere. You can simply select the values that match your prescription. If your glasses are for distance only, this will not be an issue. BO=Base Out, BI=Base In, BU=Base Up, and BD (or BDn)=Base Down. This figure is an indication of how much extra power is required on top of the distance prescription for near or intermediate glasses. The sphere power is the base power of a lens which is 360 degrees around the lens. Full Explanations: Sphere, Cylinder, and Axis Superlite titanium rimless collection The SuperLite Titanium rimless series is provided by super Warby Parker WARBY PARKER, one of the most popular eyewear brands in the United States, set up it What Are Progressive Lenses? Sometimes opticians use the word 'Add' or 'Near' instead of 'addition'. When reading your glasses prescription you will find values under the headings of SPH, CYL, AXIS and sometimes ADD, PRISM & BASESPH (Sphere)SPH is a + or - value in 0.25 steps and is required to correct your nearsightedness (-) or farsightedness (+). How to read eye prescription? In SPH, the plus sign is the indication of farsightedness (near objects are blurred). The number marked axis describes the orientation of astigmatism. See below to learn the meaning of SPH, CYL Axis, Prism, PD, and more. 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. 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. Specific parts of Rx: To expand on dr. Proffitt's answer, sph = sphere; if this is a negative number, the prescription is a myopic or nearsighted prescription and a positive number dictates a farsighted or hyperopic prescription. Axis: An axis number will also be included if you have an astigmatism. The numbers on your eyeglass prescription describe precisely how your glasses lenses should be cut. There are occasions where your optician will write out your complete "Distance" prescription followed by your complete "Near" prescription. Sphere: The sphere (SPH) on your prescription indicates the lens power you need to see clearly. How to enter your glasses prescription online. It does not matter whether the correction is of farsightedness or nearsightedness; it is always in spherical form. The 20/20 vision is the correct vision for normal eyes. You qualify for free shipping in the US! In the context of an eye 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 instructs the person making your glasses to use a lens of similar weight to balance out the frame. Balance - No values are required. In the eye prescription, there are some important elements you need to know including Sphere, Cylinder, and Axis. 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. In SPH, the minus sign is an indication of which condition? A sphero-cylindrical prescription (an Rx) for one eye consists of 3 parts, all written from left to right: [+/-Sphere]. 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 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. You'll notice the CYL and AXIS values are the same for both distance and near. If you see the "sph" in the "cyl" box . See, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. Best Place to Buy Contacts: 1800 Contacts. | The number marked 'axis' describes the orientation of astigmatism. The Pupillary distance is an essential measurement. This value is the amount to add on to the distance SPH values to ascertain what the full Near prescription should be. This number is followed by the base direction, or thickest edge, of the prism. This measurement would be your ideal frame width that is the most necessary measurement. For example: SPH -3.25 CYL -1.25 AXIS 120. Sphere: The sphere (SPH) on your prescription indicates the lens power you need to see clearly. 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. It would be entered on our website as below: Our online prescription form initially displays the most common format, Distance with a Near Add. Near is the prescription to correct near vision and may appear in full, or as an additional power (ADD) to the distance. 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). Thats where your new prescription from your optometrist or ophthalmologist comes in. What does that mean. Screen time for kids: How much is too much? Most values range from 0.00 to +/- 20.00 and go up in steps of 0.25. ADD is always a positive number and ranges from +0.75 to +3.00 for most people. 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 dont know whether you need a pair of glasses, the post How to Know If You Need Glasses? What face shape best suits round glasses? Loved by Customers -64,000+ Trustpilot Reviews! Most values range from +/- 0.25 to +/- 4.00 and will go up in steps of 0.25. This number will appear as a decimal (0.5) or fraction (), followed by two letters indicating the base direction: There may be additional information written by your optometrist or ophthalmologist regarding your eye health. It will be a number between 1 and 180. Traditional eyeglasses are usually single vision lenses with one pre Metal frames are suitable for wearing. might be bigger than you would like! The Axis in your prescription is usually measured from 1 to 180. What Do The Values On Your Prescription Mean? Home>Tips & Guides>How to Read an Eyeglass Prescription. All About Vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC. What is the difference between polarized and non-polarized lenses? 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. Only a small amount of prescriptions will require a PRISM. Add, Near Add, Reading Addition- These all relate to your reading addition and can be written anywhere on the prescription. 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. What is pupillary distance (PD) and how do you measure it? In the horizontal meridian of the eyes, the number 180 is used. Sphere, also known as degree or power, is the amount of single vision correction you need. What does Axis mean for glasses? The axis indicates the angle (in degrees) between the two meridians of an astigmatic 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. The number 90 corresponds to the vertical meridian of the eye, and the number . Dist, refers to distance, this is the prescription required to correct distance vision. You can then go ahead and enter the prescription as follows: By clicking the link Need Help? Sphere, often written as SPH, means that the correction for nearsightedness or farsightedness is spherical, equal in all meridians of the eye. In SPH, plus sign is an indication of which condition? By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Do not worry about entering your prescription details online. In nearsightedness, the person can see those objects clearly which are near to him but the far objects are blurry. ; values are usually entered with computer, but may be handwritten by doctor. Your optician may or may not write DS (Dioptres Sphere) in the CYL box. 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 the number is negative (), it means it is correcting nearsightedness. This indicates the amount of lens power, measured in diopters (D), prescribed to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness. 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. Now you know the ABCs and the ODs and OSs of your eyeglass prescription, so you can make sense of your eyeglass prescription. The cylinder is the indication of the condition, astigmatism, in which the cornea is shaped irregularly causing distorted or blurred vision. Can someone help me out here? How Do You Keep Your Glasses From Fogging Up With A Ski Mask? How to Read Your Prescription for Glasses. The "Near" row or "Near Addition" contains the information required to correct your near vision. Swim Goggles Non-Rx: Giggly Goggles for Kids, All Swim Goggles Non-Rx: Giggly Goggles for Kids, Anti Blue Light Glasses / Blue Block Glasses, Replacement Parts & Accessories| Rec Specs, Prescription Ski Goggles Inserts and Ski Goggles, Partnerships with Ophthalmologists / Optometrists / Eye Health Professionals. If your SPH value is -1.00, you are nearsighted. This post will explain them one by one. On any prescription, PD can be written in different ways: e.g., 62 (Single PD), 33/31 (Dual PD), or 62/60 (Distance PD . 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. The "Distance" row contains the values required to correct your distance vision for the respective eye. Vision Center is funded by our readers. Privacy, Eye Testing and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Free Gifts with Purchases Over $100 | Learn More. Add, Near Add, Reading Addition - These all relate to your reading addition and can be written anywhere on the prescription. These are the abbreviations that denote to Oculus Dexter and oculus sinister in Latin and mean left eye and right eye. If not, keep on your reading and you will find the full explanations in the following part. Analytics cookies are used to understand how you interact with our content. This number is always positive, even if it doesnt have a plus sign (+) in front of it. Colour blindness test: Do you see colours correctly? Reply HELP for help and STOP to cancel. Still dont know how to look for your perfect fit? Michael is the content strategist and a lead content writer for Vision Center. What are the different types of contact lenses? The cylinder is the indication of the condition, astigmatism, in which the cornea is shaped irregularly causing distorted or blurred vision. 844-249-8359 Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It will be a number between 1 and 180. The number under 'cylinder' provides the lens power needed to correct the astigmatism. The number under 'cylinder' provides the lens power needed to correct the astigmatism. A glasses prescription can be displayed in a number of ways. Diopter is the measurement used for the strength of eyeglass lenses. 10 Signs You Need Glasses. The prism Rx will have two values: PRISM & BASE. What are blue-light-blocking glasses and how do they work? A cylinder forms a focus 90 degrees to its axis. A number over 5 is generally considered to be on the stronger side. Conversely, if your prescription does not display a CYL value, you do not need an Axis value. (Some doctors will add "DS" for "diopters sphere;" others will leave this area blank.). A minus (-) symbol next to this number means you're nearsighted, and a plus (+) symbol means the prescription is meant to correct farsightedness. OOPS! There are two vision conditions, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Register so we can email you as soon as its becomes available! This correction is often used for reading, sewing and any detailed close work. During an eye exam, your doctor will determine whether you need vision correction. It's considered a mild amount of nearsightedness. to Fri (9am - 5pm) What does SPH mean for glasses? If nothing appears in this column, either you have no astigmatism, or your astigmatism is so slight that it is not really necessary to . 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. CYL is good to know because it tells how light refracts on the eyes retina. When 180 is reached, the axis then starts over at 0. 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. Like SPH and CYL, optometrists measure ADD in increments of 0.25 diopters. By the end of this article, youll know exactly how to read your glasses prescription and what your prescription means. A minus (-) symbol next to this number means you're nearsighted, and a plus (+) symbol means the prescription is meant to correct farsightedness. If your prescription indicates a CYL value, you must have a corresponding Axis value. Sphere (SPH) and Cylinder (CYL) always have a (+) or (-) sign. There will also be a number in the axis column thats needed for astigmatism correction. Find an eyewear shop nearby or online to pick your lenses and frames. A number with a minus symbol before it means you are nearsighted, and a number with a plus symbol, or no symbol, means you are farsighted. This is why you need to go to a local optician, not buy online. Some eye doctors have modernized this and replaced OD with RE (right eye) and OS with LE. 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. This shows how much focal point power, estimated in diopters (D), endorsed to address myopia or farsightedness. Your eyeglass prescription also may have a column labeled "OU." A prescription for correcting eye alignment issues will include a PRISM and BASE value. In astigmatism, the curvature of the eye is imperfect. OD is short for the Latin term oculus dexter which means right eye. What is a contact lens eye exam and fitting? The number under the OD and OS measurement in your prescription is measured in diopters. What Does SPH mean? It indicates the amount of lens power needed to correct astigmatism, measured in diopters. Free Express Shipping and 30-Day Returns Worldwide. OSstands for oculus sinister, Latin for left eye.. Axis refers to the lens meridian with no cylindrical power to correct astigmatism. Msg frequency may vary. Remember, eyeglasses prescriptions are different than prescriptions for contact lenses. Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales, 2023 A contact lens prescription can only be obtained from a contact lens consultation and fitting. Posted by otakugrey. This indicates that your lens should be shaped to correct near vision. It tells the optician how to orient the lens so that the cylinder has no power at the axis location. As you can see in the first example (Standard GOS 2 Glasses Prescription) the optician has listed the patient's complete distance prescription on the top row and the complete near prescription in the bottom row. However, there are other parameters, such as CYL which means the astigmatism part and AX which means the axis position in the astigmatism. In the third part, we will show you what the Axis in glasses is. SPH stands for spherical power and describes the degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness. Prescribing spectacles: reasons for failure of spectacle lens acceptance. 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". These will usually be specific types of corrective lens recommendations such as multifocal lenses, progressives, anti-reflective coating, photochromatic, or transition lenses. Only a small percentage of eyeglass prescriptions include prism. The axis is the orientation of the cylinder when looking at an eye. This is an important question because this is related to the eyes and gives answers related to different changes in the human eye. Prism refers to the amount of prismatic power needed to correct eye alignment problems, measured in prism diopters. We use cookies to give you a fantastic customer experience. But keep in mind, all eyewear is different, so its just a general reference. If you are due for new eyeglasses in Clermont, contact Pennachio Eye at 325-227-1999 . Theplus (+) orminus (-) sign before SPH indicates whether you are nearsighted or farsighted. I promise not to get in a petty snit. Copyright 2022 VisionCenter.org. SPH, or sphere, refers to the amount of correction needed for nearsightedness or farsightedness. Now that you understand those mysterious letters and numbers, you know how to read a glasses prescription! This is always a "+" value in 0.25 steps. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The axis is the astigmatism orientation. 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. If not, keep on your reading and you will find the full explanations in the following part. GogglesNMore All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. SPH is a '+' or '-' value in 0.25 steps and is required to correct your nearsightedness (-) or farsightedness (+).