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EyeHelp Information
Your Prescription Explained
Your Prescription Explained
When you obtain your Prescription from your optician it will look something like these types below:
Figure 1: A Standard Prescription example 
Figure 2: Another Standard Prescription example
Figure 3: A Prescription containing a prismatic correction
SPH (Sphere) This is the value that corrects your vision for long or short sightedness. The values have either a + or – in front or above the value you require. The values for this go up in 0.25 steps ie: 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25 and so on.
CYL (Cylinder) This is the value that corrects the astigmatism in your prescription if you have any. Astigmatism is the irregular curvature of the front of your eye and is very common amongst the world population. The values have either a + or – in front or above the value you require. The values for this go up in 0.25 steps ie: 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25 and so on.
AXIS (Axis) This is the axis that the astigmatic correction needs to be set at. There are no + or – values in this part of the prescription. The values for this go up in 1’ intervals from 0 to 180.
PRISM (Prism) This part of the prescription is for people requiring a wedge shaped piece of plastic or glass in their prescription to make their eyes work together as one or both of their eyes deviate away from their correct optical line. These values go up in 0.50 steps and generally don’t go over 6.
BASE (Base) This is the direction the prism is to be set at in your lenses. The direction will either be UP, DOWN, IN or OUT.
ADD (Addition) or NEAR This is the additional required power for you to be able to read without straining your eyes that is ontop of your distance prescription(If you have one) Most people over 40 require a reading addition.
Other values:
Plano Infinity } Theses values mean there is no required prescription in that field. O or Zero
DS (Diopter Sphere) This can be written in the CYL box meaning you only need a Spherical Correction.
If you require distance spectacles then please do not include the ADD or NEAR value.
If you require reading spectacles then please include the ADD or NEAR value. You may also have an INTER value on your prescription. This is generally used for computer glasses or specialist glasses for reading at a certain distance. Please contact us for advice if you have this value that needs to be made up. .
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