Your eye prescription tells the lab what power to put in each lens. It has a row for your right eye (OD or R) and your left eye (OS or L), with columns called SPH, CYL, AXIS, ADD and PD. Here is what each one means, so you can enter it correctly when you order glasses online.
Example prescription
| Eye | SPH | CYL | AXIS | ADD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right (OD) | -1.75 | -0.50 | 180 | |
| Left (OS) | -2.00 | -0.75 | 170 |
PD: 62
What each box means
- SPH: main power. Minus for short sight, plus for long sight.
- CYL: power for astigmatism. Can be empty.
- AXIS: direction of the CYL power, from 0 to 180.
- ADD: extra reading power, used for reading and progressive lenses.
- PD: distance between your pupils in millimetres.
How to enter your prescription on ROSHNEY
- Choose a frame from eyeglasses.
- Pick your lens type: single vision, blue light, photochromic, reading or progressive.
- Type the numbers from your card, or upload a clear photo of your eye card.
Not sure whether you need glasses at all? Try the free vision check, then book a full eye test with an optometrist.
Frequently asked questions
What does SPH mean on my eye prescription?
SPH (sphere) is your main lens power. A minus number means you are short sighted and see near things clearly. A plus number means you are long sighted.
What are CYL and AXIS?
CYL (cylinder) is the power that corrects astigmatism. AXIS is a number from 0 to 180 that tells the lab which direction to place that power. If CYL is empty, you have no astigmatism and AXIS is not needed.
What is PD?
PD (pupillary distance) is the distance between the centres of your pupils in millimetres, usually between 54 and 74 for adults. It makes sure the centre of each lens sits in front of each eye.
What does OD and OS mean?
OD is your right eye and OS is your left eye. Some cards write R and L instead.
How old can my prescription be?
Eyes change over time, so most optometrists recommend a new eye test every one to two years. Use your latest prescription when you order.