How to Read Your Glasses Prescription: A Simple Guide
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Buying glasses online is easy - once you know how to read your prescription!
If you've ever looked at your eye test results and felt confused by all the abbreviations and numbers, you're not alone. In this guide, we’ll break it down for you so you can order the perfect pair with confidence.
👓 What’s in a Glasses Prescription?
Your glasses prescription is essentially a recipe that tells us what lenses you need to see clearly. It usually looks something like this:
| Eye | SPH | CYL | AXIS | ADD | PRISM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OD (Right) | -1.50 | -0.50 | 180 | +2.00 | - |
| OS (Left) | -1.25 | -0.25 | 170 | +2.00 | - |
Let’s explain what each part means.
🔍 SPH (Sphere)
This is the main number for short-sightedness (minus) or long-sightedness (plus).
Minus (-) = You’re short-sighted (see well up close, blurry at a distance).
Plus (+) = You’re long-sighted (see better at distance, struggle up close).
👉 The bigger the number, the stronger the lens.
🌀 CYL (Cylinder) and AXIS
These numbers relate to astigmatism, which means your eye isn’t perfectly round.
CYL = How much correction is needed for the astigmatism.
AXIS = The direction of the correction (between 0 and 180 degrees).
If these are blank, you likely don’t have astigmatism.
➕ ADD
This is added for reading or varifocal lenses, often as people reach their 40s+.
It’s the extra power needed to help you focus on near objects.
Common values: +1.00 to +3.00
🔁 PRISM (less common)
Used for eye alignment issues, usually when one eye turns slightly. Most people don’t need prism, but if it’s on your prescription, we can make lenses to correct it.
🧠 What Do “OD” and “OS” Mean?
These are Latin abbreviations used by opticians:
OD = Oculus Dexter = Right Eye
OS = Oculus Sinister = Left Eye
Sometimes you’ll see RE and LE instead (Right Eye / Left Eye).
🛒 Ready to Order Glasses Online?
Once you understand your prescription, ordering online becomes easy. At ClickSpecs, just enter your values at checkout—or upload your prescription and we’ll take care of the rest!
Need help? Just message us and we’ll double-check everything for you
🧾 Bonus Tip: Check the Date!
Prescriptions are usually valid for 2 years or 1 year . If yours is out of date, book an eye test before ordering.
Need new glasses now that you understand your prescription?
👉 Shop affordable prescription glasses at ClickSpecs.net