Learn About Understanding Your Vision Prescription Results

What Your Vision Prescription Actually Means

A vision prescription is a written record that documents the specific lens power your eyes need to see clearly. When you visit an eye care professional and get your eyes tested, they use specialized equipment to measure how light focuses on your retina. The results become your prescription, which you can then use to purchase glasses or contact lenses. Understanding what each number and abbreviation on your prescription means helps you make informed decisions about your eye care and ensures you're getting the correct lens strength.

Get Your Free Guide to Watching The Daily Show →

Your prescription typically includes several measurements, each representing a different aspect of how your eyes focus light. These measurements are expressed in units called diopters, which measure the power of the lens needed. The prescription is unique to each eye because most people's eyes have slightly different focusing abilities. Even if your eyes seem to work the same way, one eye often has a different prescription than the other. This is completely normal and very common.

The prescription you receive is valid for a specific period, usually one to two years depending on your age and eye health. Children's prescriptions may need updating more frequently because their eyes are still developing and changing. Adults may find their prescription remains stable for longer periods, though regular eye exams help catch any changes early. It's important to keep your prescription current because using an outdated prescription can lead to eye strain, headaches, and difficulty seeing clearly.

One practical takeaway: Always ask for a copy of your prescription after your eye exam. By law, eye care providers must give you your prescription, even if you plan to purchase your glasses or contacts elsewhere. Keep this document in a safe place, as you'll need it to order eyewear from any retailer or provider.

Decoding the Main Numbers: Sphere, Cylinder, and Axis

The most prominent numbers on your prescription are Sphere (SPH), Cylinder (CYL), and Axis. The Sphere measurement indicates whether you're nearsighted or farsighted and by how much. A minus sign (−) before the number means you're nearsighted, which means you can see objects up close clearly but have trouble seeing distant objects. A plus sign (+) or no sign means you're farsighted, which means distant objects appear clearer while close-up vision may be blurry. The strength ranges from very mild corrections like ±0.50 to much stronger ones like ±6.00 or beyond, though most people fall somewhere in between.

Get Your Free Guide to Waste Pickup Options →

The Cylinder measurement describes astigmatism, which is a common condition where the eye focuses light unevenly because the cornea or lens is slightly irregularly shaped. Not everyone has astigmatism, so your prescription might show 0.00 or "DS" (which means "diopter sphere" with no cylindrical correction needed). When astigmatism is present, the cylinder number tells how much correction is needed. This number is also written with a minus or plus sign. The cylinder power is always written as a smaller number than the sphere power, typically ranging from 0.25 to 3.00 or more.

The Axis measurement only appears when you have astigmatism. It describes the direction or angle of the astigmatism in your eye, measured in degrees from 1 to 180. Think of it like the position of a clock: 0 degrees is straight across horizontally, 90 degrees is straight up and down, and other numbers represent positions in between. Your eye care professional uses specific equipment to find the exact axis angle during your exam. This measurement is crucial because the lens must be oriented at the correct angle to properly correct your astigmatism. Even a small change in axis can make your vision uncomfortable.

Practical takeaway: When comparing your current prescription to a previous one, check if any of these three numbers have changed significantly. Small changes of 0.25 or 0.50 might not dramatically affect how you see, but larger changes usually mean an updated prescription will improve your vision noticeably. If you're experiencing blurry vision with your current glasses or contacts, comparing these numbers can help you determine whether you need an updated prescription.

Understanding Add Power and Bifocal Prescriptions

If you're over 40 years old, your prescription might include an additional measurement called "Add" or "Addition." This addresses presbyopia, a natural age-related change where the eye's lens becomes less flexible and makes it harder to focus on close-up objects. This is why many people in their 40s and beyond need reading glasses or bifocals. The Add power is always a positive number, typically ranging from +0.75 to +3.00, and it represents extra magnification for near vision. This number is the same for both eyes in most cases, though not always.

Learn About Tech Access Programs →

Bifocals and progressive lenses are two common solutions for presbyopia. Bifocal lenses have two distinct areas: the upper portion contains your distance prescription, and the lower portion contains your distance prescription plus the Add power for near vision. You can see the line where these two sections meet. Progressive lenses work differently—they gradually change power from top to bottom, creating a smooth transition from distance to near vision with no visible line. Many people prefer progressives because they look better and offer clearer vision at intermediate distances like computer screens, but they cost more and have a learning curve.

Your prescription might be written as a single vision (only distance or only near), bifocal, or progressive lens prescription. Single vision prescriptions contain only the Sphere, Cylinder, and Axis measurements. If you spend most of your time at a computer or reading, your eye care provider might recommend a computer or reading-specific prescription rather than a general bifocal. Some people use multiple pairs of glasses for different activities: one pair for distance driving, one for reading, and one for computer work. This approach allows each pair to be optimized for specific tasks rather than compromising across all distances.

Practical takeaway: If you're getting bifocals or progressive lenses for the first time, expect a brief adjustment period of a few days to a week or two. Your brain needs time to learn where to look through each part of the lens. If you don't adjust after several weeks, contact your eye care provider—the prescription might need fine-tuning. Discussing your daily activities with your eye care professional helps them recommend the best lens type for your lifestyle.

What Other Prescription Abbreviations Tell You

Your prescription contains several abbreviations that provide important information. "OD" stands for "oculus dexter," which is Latin for right eye, and "OS" stands for "oculus sinister," which means left eye. Some prescriptions use "RE" and "LE" instead, standing for right eye and left eye. Each eye gets its own line of measurements because most people's eyes require different prescriptions. Below these abbreviations, you'll see the Sphere, Cylinder, and Axis numbers specific to that eye.

Learn About Maryland Tax Refunds →

"DS" stands for "diopter sphere" and appears when you don't have astigmatism in that eye. Instead of writing "CYL 0.00," your prescription simply shows "DS." Similarly, "PD" stands for pupillary distance, which measures the distance between the center of your pupils in millimeters. This measurement is essential for making glasses because the optical center of each lens must align with your pupils. A typical PD ranges from 55 to 70 millimeters. Some prescriptions don't include PD, but you can ask your eye care provider for this measurement—it's important information to have when ordering glasses.

You might also see "Prism" listed on your prescription. Prism corrects eye alignment problems where the eyes don't work together perfectly. This is less common than other prescription elements, appearing mainly in prescriptions for people with specific focusing or coordination issues. Prism is measured in prism diopters and includes a direction indicator like "BI" (base in), "BO" (base out), "BU" (base up), or "BD" (base down), describing which way the prism should be oriented.

Some prescriptions include notes about specific recommendations, such as "distance only," "reading only," or "computer." These indicate the primary use for which the prescription was designed. Your eye care provider might also note any special considerations, like "tint recommended" or "high index lens recommended" for strong prescriptions. Understanding these annotations helps you make better choices when ordering your eyewear and ensures the lenses are made according to your provider's recommendations.

Practical takeaway: Keep your full prescription information, including PD, in a safe place. When you order glasses online or from a retailer, you'll likely need your PD. If your prescription doesn't include it, contact your eye