How to Read an Glasses Prescription, Your Ultimate Guide
While you first get your glasses prescrition, it might like a foreign lanuage. It is important to ensure you to get the perfect lenses and thus you need to understand the meaning of the numbers, abbreviations and terms. Whatever you are just starting wear the prescription glasses, or know more about the content of prescription, the guide will help you to know the each elements so as to make the right decision on lenses selection. It displays the key points of prescription below, let us have a detailed understanding of it!
Understanding the Basics
The prescription of glasses is provided by your eye doctor, which specifies the type and strength of lenses you need to correct your vision. It includes the several components which show below.
OD and OS
They indicate the Oculus Dexter for right eye and Oculus Sinister for left eye. But sometimes, you might see OU, which means Oculus Uterque for your both eyes. These terms are crucial to help you distinguish the measurements for your eyes.
Sphere (SPH)
It indicates the lens power which is required to correct your vision. The plus sign denotes the value of hyperopia, and the minus sign indicates the value of myopia. And, the higher number means the stronger prescription.
Cylinder (CYL)
It reflects the lens power needed to correct it. Like the value of SPH, it can be either positive or negative, which depends on whether your astigmatism is associated with hyperopia or myopia.
Axis
Axis indicates the position of astigmatism, however it does not specify the prescription strength of the glasses. And it is defined by a number between 1 and 180 degrees.
Add
In general, Add is a positive value represents the additional magnification. It is generally required for reading or bifocal lenses for the people with presbyopia.
Prism
Sometimes, you will find the prism correction in the prescriptions, it aims to solve the problem of eye alignment. Actually, it is not common but important for people who need. It uses the diopters to measure the value of prism, which indicates the amount of prism power required to make the eyes properly aligned.
Why It Matters: How Your Prescription Influences Your Eyewear
It will help you to make the right decision for glasses selection if you know how to read the prescription. It will tell you why it is important and how to read and use it.
Choosing the Right Lenses
No matter you order the glasses online or in the store, it ensures that you will get the accurate lenses with your prescription. Especially for the values of SPH and CYL, which directly impact your clear vision.
Understanding Lens Options
Your prescription will impact your selected lenses type, you will need to use the high-index lenses if your SPH value is high so as to ensure the lightweight and thin of your glasses. Meanwhile, the people with astigmatism need the toric lenses, which is designed to accommodate the curvature of eye.
Customizing Your Glasses
Except for the prescripton, there are additional customizations which will improve your experience, such as anti-reflective, UV protection. blue light filtering, etc. Therefore, understanding the prescription, it helps you to make the most accurate decision.
Communicating with Your Eye Doctor
If there is any question or doubt on your prescription, do not hesitate, ask your eye doctor for the explanation to ensure you will make the accurate decision on eye care.
How to Ensure Your Prescription Is Up-to-Date
It is essential to do the regular eye exams, which is recommended for annual exams by American Optometric Association. Especially for the people over 40, the vision will rapidly change with age.If you have headaches, eye strain, or blurred vision, it means that you need to update your prescription.
Ordering Glasses Online: What You Need to Know
It is not easier to order your eyeglasses online, but it is essential to provide the accurate prescription. Before the order comfirmation, remember to double check the values of SPH, CYL, Axis, Add and PD. Besides, you could choose the fit frame through the used of virtual Try-on.
Conclusion: Take Control of Your Vision
It is the first step to know about your prescription. You will know what is you need and smoothly communicate with your eye doctor so as to confidently choose the suitable lenses. Whether you are just starting out with glasses or need the review, it ensures that you will get the best vision correction results if you know how to read your prescription.
If you know how to use the terms on your glasses selection, there will be a better eyewear world. You will clearly know how to read and use your prescripton while you need to update your glasses.
