You only got back from the eye specialist with a prescription for the eyeglasses in hand but still uncertain about what is going on, and what does it mean by all the abbreviations and numbers? When you take a look at the prescriptions given to you after your eye check for eyeglasses, you would see a series of numbers listed under the O.S. and O.D., as well as other abbreviations that you might don’t understand the meaning of them.
First of all, it is crucial that you periodically get your eyes checked. When you have undergone an eye examination in the past, you should obtain a copy of the prescription from the eye-care specialists, which are expected to have an expiry date under a certain period of time. You must pick up a new prescription as quickly as possible after performing an eye test and discovering that the eye conditions have changed. That’s when the optometrist or ophthalmologist steps in for your latest prescription.
Many online retailers are requesting you to read and submit your prescription in the purchase form, but this method may be complicated if you don’t know how to read your prescription! Here we provide you with a guide for you to understand everything mentioned in your prescription, so it would be easy to understand your prescription for your future needs or reference, perhaps in getting a pair of eyewear online!
To start reading your prescription, the first thing is to realise what O.D. and O.S. signify. Well, O.D. It is an abbreviation for the Latin term ‘Oculus Dexter,’ which means “right eye.” All the details in this section would be used for the “right eye.” While O.S. stands for the Latin word ‘Oculus Sinister,’ which translates to ‘left eye.’ All the elements in this section would be used to address the left eye. Any prescriptions can even have a section called O.U., an abbreviation for ‘Oculus Uterque,’ which implies “both eyes.”
Sphere: The Sphere (SPH) shows the strength of the lens you use to see clearly. A minus (-) sign next to this number indicates that you are short-sighted, while a plus (+) symbol means that the prescription is intended to fix long-sightedness.
Cylinder: The number of the cylinder (CYL) shows the power of the lens required to fix astigmatism. If this column is zero, that indicates you don’t have astigmatism.
Axis: If you have astigmatism, an axis number would also be included. This number indicates the lens’s angle that does not have the cylinder power to fix your astigmatism.
Add (Reading Addition): As the name indicates, the numbers in this section are for additional reading power when required. Power will be added to the mirror’s reading region, which indicates that this is most definitely a prescription for multifocal or bifocal eyeglasses.
Prism/Base: Prism is used to fix certain eye conditions, such as muscle imbalance, tired eye, or eye coordination issues. Prismatic power is determined in prism diopters (p.d.), often showing its position or orientation.
Prismatic power is determined in prism diopters (p.d.), often showing its position or orientation, which “B.U.” (base up),” B.I. “(base in, towards the nose), and “B.O.” (base down, towards the temple).
Prescription eyeglasses are offered in all sorts of styles, sizes, and colours. Based on your particular styles and vision needs, it’s crucial to select the frames that will fit your needs.
At RYAN ADDA, all of our iconic optical frames are crafted from out of only premium Titanium material. As long as you have a prescription with you, you have the opportunity to add a prescription to all of our collections of optical frames.
