This number will appear as a decimal (0.5) or fraction (), followed by two letters indicating the base direction: There may be additional information written by your optometrist or ophthalmologist regarding your eye health. In addition to the information in an eyeglass prescription, a contact lens prescription must specify the base (central) curve of the back surface of the contact lens, the lens diameter, and the specific manufacturer and brand name of the lens. When you enter your prescription during checkout, please select "Not Applicable" for all Cylinder and Axis fields, thank you. You may find a number listed which helps determine the amount of lens power that is needed to correct astigmatism. DS (Dioptres Sphere) means you only have a Sphere power. Axis numbers go from 0 to 180. 1 What is the normal eye SPH CYL and axis value? The calculator gives you the closest available power. CYL stands for cylinder, or the amount of astigmatism in your eye. Should I get a second opinion? The term "sphere" refers to the fact that distance vision correction is spherical, or equal in all meridians of the eye. If you do have two prescriptions from two optometrists, you will think the diopters have changed, but, in fact is the same thing just written differently. . OD is your right eye. Specific parts of Rx: To expand on dr. Proffitt's answer, sph = sphere; if this is a negative number, the prescription is a myopic or nearsighted prescription and a positive number dictates a farsighted or hyperopic prescription. In SPH, the minus sign is the indication of nearsightedness (far away objects are blurred). Axis is a number between 0 and 180 degrees that indicates the orientation of the astigmatism. That information can only be obtained through a contact lens fitting, an additional procedure that can be performed during your eye doctor visit. The axis is a number on your eye prescription to indicate the direction any cylindrical power in your lenses must be positioned. We always recommend attaching a copy of your prescription to the order, or fax this through or email it separately, we will double check the prescription this end to ensure the correct lenses are produced. Your optical prescription. It will be a number between 1 and 180. The number under the OD and OS measurement in your prescription is measured in diopters. Around 42 percent of people in the United States have myopia (nearsightedness).4 These people may face an increased risk of developing glaucoma and cataracts. For example, 0.5 PD or 1.5PD, and so on. The 20/20 vision is the correct vision for normal eyes. The axis is labeled as a number from 1 to 180. The 'Cyl' value describes these precise alterations to help you see. In SPH, plus sign is an indication of which condition? She is a content writer for Vision Center and works with a team of editors and medical experts to provide credible and digestible articles on all things vision. Subscribe to receive updates, access to exclusive deals, and more. If you are nearsighted, you will see there is a minus sign(-) next to the Sphere number. AXIS refers to the angle of the astigmatism in your eye and has nothing to do with the severity of your prescription. It's considered a mild amount of nearsightedness. The Axis in your prescription is usually measured from 1 to 180. I agree to Olives, How to Know If You Need Glasses? The axis is the lens meridian that is 90 degrees away from the meridian that contains the cylinder power for astigmatism correction. Usually your lenses will be positioned around 10-12mm from your eyes, however this will vary from person to person. The 'AXIS' is related to the cylinder curvature and shows the direction of where the eye is curved. The base curvature and diameter of the lens are indicated on a contact lens prescription, as are the expiration date and brand of lens. An axis of 180 degrees, for example, means the astigmatism is horizontal. A prism value is given to people with focusing disorders, such as crossed eyes, and helps to displace images into the proper direction. If the SPH value is 0.00, or noted by Plano, Pl, or an infinity sign, you do not have a vision distance problem. 20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet. Cyl stands for Cylinder. Vision Center is funded by our readers. Your vision prescription may also have a column labeled "OU." The AXIS stands for "Axis" and SPH stands for "Sphere". The number 90 represents the eyes vertical meridian, The number 180 represents the horizontal meridian, Eye muscle problems, such as strabismus (crossed eyes), Neurological conditions, such as stroke or migraine, Nerve-related issues, such as multiple sclerosis or diabetes mellitus. Still dont know how to look for your perfect fit? We may earn commissions if you purchase something via one of our links. Contact lens prescriptions provide the same information as eyeglass prescriptions, with the addition of some extra numbers. Keep your prescription up to date so these numbers can accurately reflect your visual needs. If you don't have astigmatism, the cylinder . Lens power is represented in diopters. They might suggest anti-reflective coating, photochromic lenses and/or progressive lenses to give you the most comfortable vision correction possible. This is required for individuals with astigmatism. All About Vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC. Do you know how to read your prescriptions? The system is tested with 48 single-power spherocylindrical lenses with a range of -11.25 to +4.25 D for Sph . The Pupillary distance is an essential measurement. When shes not working, Dr. Huang loves reviewing new skin care products, trying interesting food recipes, or hanging with her adopted cats. Each eyeglass prescription contains different information, depending on your eyes' condition. **Your total cost will be based on your individual needs and will be determined with your provider. By subscribing to Eyebuydirect text messaging on 81096, you agree to receive recurring autodialed marketing text msgs to the mobile number used at opt-in. 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. The axis value is measured between 0 and 180 degrees and is inherent if a cylinder value is present. It indicates the amount of lens power needed to correct astigmatism, measured in diopters. If the axis is 180 degrees, you may see it noted as x180. Eyeglass lenses are positioned at a distance from the eyes, while contacts rest directly on the eyes. If in doubt just enter your prescription as you see it, if youre not sure what type of lenses are suitable, hover your mouse over the question mark next to the lens type to reveal more detailed information about the product. OD is short for the Latin term oculus dexter which means right eye. DV is an abbreviation for distance vision. Home>Tips & Guides>How to Read an Eyeglass Prescription. No, you cannot use your glasses prescription to buy contact lenses. Cylinder power will always come after sphere power in a glasses prescription. The cylinder power (CYL value) is the lens power for astigmatism. Essentially this means correction for Astigmatism is not required for the prescription being considered. EyeBuyDirect has a wide variety of budget frames starting at $6. It is the distance from the centre of one pupil to the centre of the other pupil measured in mm (ranges from 50 to 70mm). The CYL basically represents the main differences in the weakest as well as greatest eye powers which are usually separated by degrees (90). What does SPH DS mean? OS is short for oculus sinister, Latin for left eye.. At Felix Gray, we can currently provide designer prescription glasses online with a spherical value (SPH) between -6.00 and +4.00 up to a -/+2.00 cylinder (CYL). Only used for multifocal (progressive/bifocal) lenses. The numbers are from 1 to 180 in the axis part of the eye prescription. CYL (or Cylinder) indicates you have a condition where the cornea and/or lens of the eye are irregularly shaped causing blurred vision, in other words, astigmatism. Eye care doctors use two specific values to describe the degree and location of astigmatism. In the following picture, you can see an eye prescription. On the prescription of eyeglasses, the cylinder typically follows the sphere power. Where 180 is your eye's horizontal meridian, 90 is the vertical meridian. Sphere, Cylinder, and Axis on Eye Prescriptions Sphere: The sphere (SPH) on your prescription indicates the lens power you need to see clearly. -0.50 D cylinder for the correction of astigmatism. If the number under this heading has a plus sign (+), you are farsighted. A minus (-) symbol next to this number means you're nearsighted, and a plus (+) symbol means the prescription is meant to correct farsightedness. These are the abbreviations that denote to Oculus Dexter and oculus sinister in Latin and mean left eye and right eye. it is almost same with vision correct only the difference between plus cylinder and minus cylinder is the shap of the ophthalmic lensa shape or form to manage the thickness and the fitting in the frame. The number might be very small, like 0.25, or a large number, like 6.00. What is CYL, AXIS and SPH? 3. If your prescription includes Cylinder lens power, it must include Axis as well. For people already using corrective eyewear, it is wise to get an updated prescription each year. The prism may be positioned vertically, horizontally, or diagonally in one or both eyeglass lenses. Through her writing, Dr. Huang enjoys educating patients on how to lead healthier and happier lives. The CYL stands for Cylinder. The number 90 represents the eye's vertical meridian. We look forward to working with you to determine the best eye surgery or nonsurgical treatment for your individual needs. This is an important question because this is related to the eyes and gives answers related to different changes in the human eye. When prism diopters are indicated in decimal form, typically only one digit appears after the period (e.g., 0.5). How to Measure Your PD with A Regular Ruler. Axis is the direction in which the astigmatism . On the other hand, in the farsightedness, the person can see those objects clearly which are far but near object seems blurry. Analytics cookies are used to understand how you interact with our content. My prescription reads: Sph. The number marked axis describes the orientation of astigmatism. What face shape best suits cat eye glasses? Typically, youll see several abbreviations and words labeling all of the important data on your prescription. What Does Axis Mean for Glasses Prescription? Axis. What Do the Abbreviations on My Glasses Prescription Mean? OD is short for oculus dexter, the Latin phrase for right eye., OS is your left eye. In an eyeglass prescription, the 'Axis' number can be any number from 1 to 180. Keeping your eyeglass prescription up-to-date is essential for maintaining effective corrective eyewear. Axis describes the lens meridian that contains no cylinder power to correct astigmatism. The information provided on VisionCenter.org should not be used in place of actual information provided by a doctor or a specialist. An eye prescription specifies the values needed for your corrective eyewear. If the axis changes by more than 90, you need to consult an eye specialist. People with a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, and a family history of eye disease are encouraged to see an ophthalmologist for vision screenings sooner. The term means that the correction for your sight is spherical. Four abbreviations are used for prism direction: BU = base up; BD = base down; BI = base in (toward the wearer's nose); BO = base out (toward the wearer's ear). The optical centre of each lens should be placed directly in front of the centre of each of your pupils. This is because eyeglass lenses are worn some distance (usually about 12 millimeters) from the surface of the eye, whereas contact lenses rest directly on the cornea of the eye. The term "sphere" means that the correction for nearsightedness or farsightedness is "spherical," or equal in all meridians of the eye. What are SPH, CYL, andAXIS? This means your lenses will be shaped to improve your distance vision. Contact us, Mon. 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. The number in the cylinder column may have a minus sign (for correction of nearsighted astigmatism) or a plus sign (for farsighted astigmatism). A minus sign () means it's correcting nearsighted astigmatism, while plus sign(+) means it's correcting farsighted astigmatism. The number will have a (+) sign if you are long-sighted. SPH, referring to sphere, is an abbreviation youll see on all eyeglass prescriptions. The system bypasses this limitation by providing at-home prescription measurements. The AXIS, in degrees, is a number between 0 and 180. Vision Center is funded by our readers. This allows people with astigmatism to see better. 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