How to Read Your Eyeglasses Prescription

So, you’ve just had an eye exam with your Optometrist (OD) or Ophthalmologist (OMD), and they tell you it’s time for glasses. They hand you a prescription, and as you look at it, you're probably thinking, “What does all this mean?” It’s full of weird abbreviations and numbers-it might as well be written in code.

But don’t worry. You’re not alone, and it’s actually not as complicated as it looks. This “code” is just a special way to describe what your eyes need to help you see clearly. Once you understand a few key terms, it’ll all start to make sense.

What’s on Your Prescription?

Even though the layout of eyeglass prescriptions can vary, they all include the same basic info:

• Your name
• Your doctor’s name, contact info, and license number
• The date the prescription was written and when it expires (usually valid for 1–2 years depending on your state and your doctor’s decision)

What Do the Abbreviations Mean?

Here are a few common terms you’ll see:

• OD = Right Eye (Latin: Oculus Dexter)
• OS = Left Eye (Latin: Oculus Sinister)
• OU = Both Eyes (Latin: Oculus Uterque)

Some prescriptions might just use RE (Right Eye) and LE (Left Eye) instead, but they all mean the same thing.

Pro Tip: The right eye info is always listed first.

Breaking Down the Numbers

1. SPH (Sphere)

This tells you how strong your prescription is.

• A minus sign (–) means you're nearsighted (things far away are blurry).
• A plus sign (+) or no sign means you're farsighted (close-up things are blurry).
• If it says “0.00” or “PL” (plano), you don’t need correction in that eye for distance.

2. CYL (Cylinder)

This part corrects astigmatism, which means your eye is more shaped like a football than a basketball. If you have astigmatism, the light entering your eye doesn’t focus evenly. You can get best offers on your first order with Dilly Dollar Opticals

• If this section is blank or says “SPH,” you don’t have astigmatism.
• The number may have a minus (–) or a plus (+), depending on how the doctor writes it.

3. Axis

This works together with the CYL number. It tells the lens where to place the correction for astigmatism. The number will be between 1 and 180 and usually written with three digits (like “045”).

• No CYL? Then you won’t see an Axis value either.

Example: +1.00 -1.50 x 145
This means: +1.00 SPH, -1.50 CYL, axis at 145 degrees.

4. Add (or NV-Add)

This part is for bifocals, trifocals, or progressive lenses. It’s the extra magnification you need to see things up close, usually as you get older and develop presbyopia (a natural loss of near vision that starts around age 40).

• The number is always a plus.
• Usually the same for both eyes.
• If you see NVO (Near Vision Only), that means the glasses are just for reading.

5. Prism

Not common, but sometimes used for people whose eyes don’t align properly (like in double vision).

• Measures how much the lens shifts the image to help your eyes work together.
• Direction is marked with terms like: BU = Base Up BD = Base Down BI = Base In (toward your nose) BO = Base Out (toward your ear)
• BU = Base Up
• BD = Base Down
• BI = Base In (toward your nose)
• BO = Base Out (toward your ear)

6. Notes or Comments

Your doctor might include specific instructions or recommendations here, like:

• Glasses are for computer use or reading music
• Special lens types (like anti-glare or transition lenses)
• Preferred lens materials (lighter, thinner, more durable)

Final Thoughts

Yes, your eyeglass prescription can look overwhelming at first. But once you know what all those abbreviations and numbers stand for, it’s just a detailed roadmap to clearer vision—tailored just for your eyes.

When you take your prescription to an optical shop or order online, the experts use this info to create lenses that match your exact needs. The result? Glasses that help you see your best. If you're looking for your business deal feel free to reach out Eason Optical, they do deal in Optical frames and all accessories since 2015.