SPH indicates the adjustment for spherical power, with . If you are farsighted, you will see a plus sign(+) next to the Sphere number. Please try again. Common Abbreviations That Appear on Your Prescription. Cylinder indicates the amount of lens power for astigmatism. This is the most common format with clearly printed fields for OD, OS, SPH, CYL, etc. It is measured with the unit diopters (D), indicating the lens power of the glasses. These will usually be specific types of corrective lens recommendations such as multifocal lenses, progressives, anti-reflective coating, photochromatic, or transition lenses. When people talk about their eye degree or power, they are usually referring to their SPH value. Cylinder: The cylinder (CYL) number indicates the . 5. If you have an astigmatism, indicated by an axis and cylinder number on your prescription, it means that the front of your eye is irregularly shaped. Notable terms include: Sphere (SPH) - The term "sphere" means that the correction for nearsightedness or farsightedness is spherical, equal in all meridians of the eye. Cyl = cylinder or the amount or power of the astigmatism correction. But what exactly do all these abbreviations and numbers mean? Youll typically find the abbreviates OD and OS on the left side of your prescription. EyeBuyDirect has a wide variety of budget frames starting at $6. In the vertical meridian of the eyes, the number 90 is used. 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). 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. In AXIS, the lens meridian plays an important role. +4.50 -1.50 x90. You'll notice the CYL and AXIS values are the same for both distance and near. A prescription for correcting eye alignment issues will include a PRISM and BASE value. VA, Visual Acuities - These values describe your vision (visual acuity) but are not needed to make your glasses. The number 90 corresponds to the vertical meridian of the eye, and the number . Let's use an example to understand things better. This indicates the amount of lens power, measured in diopters (D), prescribed to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness. Our entire range of womens prescription designer glasses. Find an eyecare professional and book online in minutes! If you require spectacles for intermediate use include the INTER ADD in the ADD box when ordering and also advise us in the additional info box that you require these for intermediate use. When you enter your prescription during checkout, please select "Not Applicable" for all Cylinder and Axis fields, thank you. Typical SPH numbers range between 0.00 and +/- 20.00. On the prescription of eyeglasses, the cylinder typically follows the sphere power. We may earn commissions if you purchase something via one of our links. See below to learn the meaning of SPH, CYL Axis, Prism, PD, and more. This is an important question because this is related to the eyes and gives answers related to different changes in the human eye. The axis value is often preceded by an x when written in freehand. On any prescription, PD can be written in different ways: e.g., 62 (Single PD), 33/31 (Dual PD), or 62/60 (Distance PD . Sitemap | All Prices are in USD, Exclusive Development Partner The measurement is Prism Dioptre. The 20/20 vision is the correct vision for normal eyes. The Axis in your prescription is usually measured from 1 to 180. Our entire range of mens prescription designer glasses. ADD is always a positive number and ranges from +0.75 to +3.00 for most people. ADD, or addition, refers to the amount of magnifying power you would need in multifocal lenses to see closer objects, like a book. This indicates the amount of lens power, measured in diopters (D), prescribed to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness. The three columns (from left to right) refer to Sphere (SPH), Cylinder (CYL) and Axis. ", Sunglasses, Spectacle Frames, Spectacle Lens and Magnifying Spectacles.. This box maybe empty or have a plus or a minus value in it. Astigmatism correction is not spherical. The axis is defined with a number from 1 to 180. If you are trying to reach us outside of these hours please email us at [emailprotected] and we will respond the next working day. Enter your email address to make it happen. Like SPH and CYL, optometrists measure ADD in increments of 0.25 diopters. All frame measurements can be found in the details tab on our product pages. When 180 is reached, the axis then starts over at 0. COPYRIGHT document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); ZENNI OPTICAL , INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You will also have a corresponding "AXIS" value (see below).When no astigmatism correction is required the optician will leave the box blank. Some eyeglass prescriptions may require a PD (pupillary distance) measurement. Near is the prescription to correct near vision and may appear in full, or as an additional power (ADD) to the distance. The term "sphere" means that the correction for nearsightedness or farsightedness is "spherical," or equal in all meridians of the eye. Checkout now! This is only present if your eyes do not focus well together as a pair, such as in strabismus (eye turn). 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. Sphere, also known as degree or power, is the amount of single vision correction you need. 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). 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). The axis is labeled as a number from 1 to 180. Axis is the angle in which the cylinder correction should be. The ADD value is also referred to as a "Near Addition" or "Reading Addition". Spectacle-related eye injuries, spectacle-impact performance and eye protection. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. What face shape best suits round glasses? What if my prescription does not follow the format on your website? Sphere (SPH) - The expression "sphere" means that the remedy for astigmatism or farsightedness is round, equivalent in all meridians of the 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 . Naturally, a prescription will contain values for the correction of both of your eyes. You can view our cookie policy here. Different Prescriptions and How to Enter Your Values On Our Site. This is always "+" value in 0.25 steps. Consequently, 24 shown by the red line on the Continue Reading 10 Sponsored by Forbes Advisor Most values range from +/- 0.25 to +/- 4.00 and will go up in steps of 0.25. This is especially handy as you can copy the values without having to make any calculations yourself. Knowing how to read an eyeglass prescription is essential! If your prescription indicates a CYL value, you must have a corresponding Axis value. On the eye prescription, there are minus and plus signs in the cylinder column. SPH stands for spherical power and describes the degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness. Do you know the meaning of the Sphere, Cylinder and Axis? For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Most values range from 0.00 to +/- 20.00 and go up in steps of 0.25. Theplus (+) orminus (-) sign before SPH indicates whether you are nearsighted or farsighted. Free Gifts with Purchases Over $100 | Learn More. Most values range from 0.00 to +/- 20.00 and go up in steps of 0.25. How Do You Keep Your Glasses From Fogging Up With A Ski Mask? The type of Rx glasses may be noted on a prescription, such as DV [Distance Vision/nearsightedness] and NV [Near Vision/reading]. 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. 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. However, there are other parameters, such as CYL which means the astigmatism part and AX which means the axis position in the astigmatism. 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. If the number is negative (), it means it is correcting nearsightedness. The higher the number on your prescription, the stronger your prescription is. What does VD mean on eye prescription? 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. Posted by otakugrey. Designed in Singapore for diverse tastes (and noses). Eyeglass prescriptions may have several components, including sphere, cylinder, and axis. [+/-Cylinder].axis [some angle between 0 and 180 degrees]. The SPH number on a glasses prescription is listed as a positive (+) or negative (-) number. These are the abbreviations that denote to Oculus Dexter and oculus sinister in Latin and mean left eye and right eye. In addition, you will see the initials OD and OS written on your eye prescription. This correction is often used for driving, television and general wear (walking around). What face shape best suits browline glasses? What the values on your prescription mean. You can simply select the values that match your prescription. All About Vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC. Or, are the sphere & axis values so small they can be dropped off? The sphere is the indication of how strong the lenses need to be in order to correct the vision. They are abbreviations foroculus dexterandoculus sinister, which are Latin terms for right eye and left eye. If you cant make sense of your eyeglass prescription, youre not alone. If you are nearsighted, you will see there is a minus sign(-) next to the Sphere number. (See Different ways in which a prescription can be displayed below). This number always has a (+) sign. For multi-focal glasses, as well as reading and computer glasses, your Rx will include an ADD or NV value. Do a "deep search" instead. Now you know the ABCs and the ODs and OSs of your eyeglass prescription, so you can make sense of your eyeglass prescription. Remember, eyeglasses prescriptions are different than prescriptions for contact lenses. What Do the Abbreviations on My Glasses Prescription Mean? 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. This indicates the required strength for the near prescription in your lens. This instructs the person making your glasses to use a lens of similar weight to balance out the frame. The PRISM value will also be followed by a directional value (see BASE below). What does that mean. That way, your eyes are looking through the best point on each lens, some prescriptions may have the PD/Pupillary Distance listed for each eye respectively, for example RE: 32 LE: 32, you would enter 64mm from our list. (Note that this is different than a contact lens prescription). 'Add' +2.50 - should be entered for both eyes). When you hold the prescription, have you ever been curious to know what the number and letters mean for your eyesight? AXISAn AXIS will only be found on your prescription if there is a CYL value for the same eye. We can offer up to 3.00 Dioptre's of prism online however if yours exceed this or if you have more than one direction for each eye please contact us to confirm suitablility and availability. Cylinder axes range from 0 to 180, and are based on a hemispheric protractor. If not, keep on your reading and you will find the full explanations in the following part. You must be logged in to manage your wishlist. These are abbreviations for the Latin terms oculus dexter and oculus sinister. 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). Warby Parker has stylish, high-quality frames at affordable prices. 844-249-8359 Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Youll often see this terms on eyeglass prescriptions. A minus sign () means it's correcting nearsighted astigmatism, while plus sign(+) means it's correcting farsighted astigmatism. Sphere: The sphere (SPH) on your prescription indicates the lens power you need to see clearly. There will also be a number in the axis column thats needed for astigmatism correction. Essentially this means correction for Astigmatism is not required for the prescription being considered. Sphere, Cylinder, and Axis on Eye Prescriptions. The term sphere refers to the fact that distance vision correction is spherical, or equal in all meridians of the eye. On the eye prescription, CYL represents the cylinder correction part whether there is astigmatism or not. 1. Prescribing spectacles: reasons for failure of spectacle lens acceptance. Optometrists measure SPH values in increments of 0.25 diopters, and when people talk about their prescription degree, they're usually talking about their sphere value. Base is the direction of a PRISM value and will only be supplied if the prescription has a PRISM value. 10 Signs You Need Glasses may be helpful. The Sphere is also used to correct the nearsightedness or farsightedness. Progressive For multi-focal glasses, as well as reading and computer glasses, your Rx will include an ADD or NV value. They may also enter an abbreviation "DS" (Dioptre Spheres) or "SPH" (Sphere) indicating that the correction required is spherical only. In other words, because eyeglasses and contact lenses have different distances from your eyes, the amount of correctionneeded is also different. 1-800 Contacts is our #1 recommendation to buy contacts online. Those individuals having 1.5 or more diopters will definitely need to use eyeglasses in order to correct the vision. Astigmatism relates to an issue in the curvature of yourcorneathat causes blurred distance and near vision, especially at night. Conversely, if your prescription does not display a CYL value, you do not need an Axis value. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. After reading this part, you may get the answer. They can also be written anywhere on the prescription. This is a common question when the person who consults eye specialists encountered the eye prescription. Sphere means the spherical correction where the meridians of the human eye are equal. 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. Contact us, Mon. You qualify for free shipping in the US! Click here if your prescription looks different to this form. as shown in the image below. Prism is used to correct eye alignment issues and can be a metric or fraction value. If the glasses help to improve the vision, then the person is not legally blind. This stops light from focusing properly on your retina and makes your vision blurry. With our 14-Day Fit & Style Guarantee, you can request a refund or exchange a new pair, hassle-free! And what about all those abbreviated terms, such as OD, OS, SPH and CYL? CYL (Cylinder) CYL is a '+' or '-' value in 0.25 steps and is required to correct your astigmatism. I promise not to get in a petty snit. It is not a condition, or disease. Should I get a second opinion? Cylinder power always follows Sphere power in an eyeglass prescription. What do the values on your prescription mean? You will notice there is no CYL or AXIS for the left eye, this means there is no astigmatism present. When no correction for SPH is required the optician will write "Plano", "", "0.00" or just leave the space blank. They may only write it once, but it normally applies to both eyes and is almost always the same value for both eyes (e.g. The number 90 corresponds to the vertical meridian of the eye, and the number 180 corresponds to the horizontal meridian. SPH is a + or - value in 0.25 steps and is required to correct your nearsightedness (-) or farsightedness (+). Sphere (SPH) and Cylinder (CYL) always have a (+) or (-) sign. If the number appearing under this heading has a minus sign (-), you . The measurement is the Dioptre. The AXIS stands for Axis and SPH stands for Sphere. What is pupillary distance (PD) and how do you measure it? CYL (Cylinder)CYL is a + or - value in 0.25 steps and is required to correct your astigmatism. They can also be written anywhere on the prescription. If there is no number written under the CYL part, this means you are free from astigmatism and need no eye contact. Explained: Why do new glasses make you dizzy? See, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Usually your lenses will be positioned around 10-12mm from your eyes, however this will vary from person to person. Your eyeglass prescription also may have a column labeled "OU." Unlike typical Rx formats, with values going from left to right, the vertical Rx values are listed top to bottom. This shows how much focal point power, estimated in diopters (D), endorsed to address myopia or farsightedness. 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. ADD. DS (Dioptres Sphere) means you only have a Sphere power. If your SPH value is -1.00, you are nearsighted. In SPH, the minus sign is the indication of nearsightedness (far away objects are blurred). When the shape of the human eye cornea changes, the large changes in the measurement of the axis is seen though, this is rare. Our friendly customer service team are on hand to help Monday to Friday 9 am-5 pm and Saturdays 9 am-12 pm. Astigmatism is often present at birth, but it can develop, or become more severe, as you get older. The temple should be long enough to keep the frame securely in place without any pressure on your ears. All Rights Reserved. What Is The Difference Between A Retinal Tear And A Retinal Detachment? If you complete an eye exam and find your eyes needs have changed, you need to order a new prescription as soon as possible. However, underneath the form, you will see a set of links under the heading "Click here if your prescription looks different to this form". 'Sphere' is basically a measure of how strong your prescription needs to be. Knowing what they mean will also help you more easily discuss your prescription with your eye care professional. Here are some common prescription types to help you navigate yours. Below is a standard NHS prescription that has been written as two full lines of prescription: You can edit the form by clicking the link Need Help? 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". For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Register so we can email you as soon as its becomes available! For example: SPH -3.25 CYL -1.25 AXIS 120. If for any reason you are not satisfied with your order, we will replace or exchange your glasses/lenses. might be bigger than you would like! With eight years of experience in the world of content strategy and creation, Michael specializes in medical copywriting and advanced research methodologies. 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. This correction is often used for computer (VDU) operation. In SPH, the minus sign is an indication of which condition? Typically, youll see several abbreviations and words labeling all of the important data on your prescription. Sphere refers to the power of your lens (measured in dioptre units) to correct the degree of short or long sight you have. Press J to jump to the feed. These links allow you to toggle the form so that it appears the same as the hard copy of your prescription, some common examples are shown below. If you promise not to get in a petty snit, and let me explain why, I'll tell you the answer to your question. Colour blindness test: Do you see colours correctly? If you have an astigmatism, you will find a "+" or "-" value in this box. Sphere, often written as SPH, means that the correction for nearsightedness or farsightedness is spherical, equal in all meridians of the eye. 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. This article will help you decipher all parts of your prescription and discuss it knowledgeably with an optician or when you buy eyeglasses online. This indicates the amount of lens power for astigmatism. If not, keep on your reading and you will find the full explanations in the following part. The PD/Pupillary Distance is generally measured during a sight test, but is not routinely written on a prescription, you can ask for this from your Opticians, or ask them to add it to your prescription when you are tested. On some rare occasions, you may find an AXIS value with a decimal place or fraction. Sphere means the spherical correction where the meridians of the human eye are equal. 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. Medically Reviewed by Dr. Melody Huang, O.D. The number under 'cylinder' provides the lens power needed to correct the astigmatism. There is no astigmatism correction for this eye, so no cylinder power or axis is noted. oBundle. 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. VA, Visual Acuities- These values describe your vision (visual acuity) but are not needed to make your glasses. 2000-2023 AAV Media, LLC. 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 (+). It is measured in diopters, the unit of measurement for the lens's refractive (light-bending) power. If the human eye acuity is 20/200, this is called the bad eye axis and is considered the blind person. Traditional eyeglasses are usually single vision lenses with one pre Metal frames are suitable for wearing. The ADD value is also referred to as a "Near Addition" or "Reading Addition". A minus (-) symbol next to this number means youre nearsighted, and a plus (+) symbol means the prescription is meant to correct farsightedness. The axis indicates the angle (in degrees) between the two meridians of an astigmatic eye. Our entire range of prescription glasses for Women. The cylinder is the indication of the condition, astigmatism, in which the cornea is shaped irregularly causing distorted or blurred vision. Worried about the wrong fit? What face shape best suits cat eye glasses? For a full 12 months from dispatch date we will repair or replace any frames with a manufacturing fault. The left eye (OS) is being prescribed -1.00 D sphere for myopia plus -0.50 D cylinder for the correction of astigmatism. It is used to correctly orientate the cylinder correction when making your glasses. When you enter your prescription during checkout, please select "Not Applicable" for all Cylinder and Axis fields, thank you. What does "SPH" appearing under Cylinder on my prescription mean? The axis depicts the angle between two meridians. Different ways a prescription can be displayed.Common abbreviations that appear on your prescription. E.g. Prism refers to the amount of prismatic power needed to correct eye alignment problems, measured in prism diopters. In addition, most prescriptions willshow your pupillary distance (PD), the horizontal distance between your pupils. In astigmatism, the curvature of the eye is imperfect. An eye prescription specifies the values needed for your corrective eyewear. In the second part, we will explain what the Cylinder in glasses is. Consent is not a condition of purchase. A positive value, or a prescription with a plus-sign (+), means that your child is farsighted. Cylinder, abbreviated CYL, follows sphere power in your eyeglass prescription. Screen time for kids: How much is too much? 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. It will be a number between 1 and 180. Best Place to Buy Contacts: 1800 Contacts. Your eyeglass prescription contains other terms and abbreviations as well. Sphere, sometimes abbreviated as SPH, indicates the amount of lens power needed to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness. This figure is an indication of how much extra power is required on top of the distance prescription for near or intermediate glasses. Sphere (SPH) and Cylinder (CYL) always have a (+) or (-) sign. The cylinder is the amount of power change from the sphere in one meridian. The axis is defined with a number from 1 to 180. 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. Whats more, if an eyeglass prescription includes cylinder power, it also must include an Axis value, which follows the CYL power. Sometimes they need to be adjusted by professionals. In SPH, the plus sign is the indication of farsightedness (near objects are blurred). Is 20/20 or 6 by 6 vision perfect eyesight? The lens power amount is, therefore, measured in D (diopters) for farsightedness or nearsightedness. 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? One FREE Frame with SV 1.56 index lenses are included ! In the context of an eye prescription, OD means right eye and OS means left eye. Our entire range of mens glasses suitable for varifocal lenses. The images below show some possible layouts of different prescriptions and how they would be entered on our website. What does SPH DS mean? The Sphere is also used to correct the nearsightedness or farsightedness. Plano, Infinity, 0.00, - Basically 0.00 or no correction is required for that part of the prescription. 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. You may find a number listed which helps determine the amount of lens power that is needed to correct astigmatism. Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales, 2023 This indicates that your lens should be shaped to correct near vision.