How To Read Your Prescription Like A Pro

How to Read Your Eyewear Prescription Like a Pro 👓

So, you’ve just received your eyeglasses prescription — and it looks like a secret code. Don’t worry! In this quick guide, we’ll help you crack it, line by line, so you can order the perfect lenses online with confidence.


🔍 A Sample Prescription

Eye SPH CYL AXIS ADD PD
OD (Right) -1.50 -0.75 180 +1.50 63 mm
OS (Left) -1.25 -0.50 175 +1.50

📘 What Each Term Means

  • OD / OS: Latin for “Right Eye” (OD) and “Left Eye” (OS).
  • SPH (Sphere): The strength of your lens. A negative number means you're nearsighted; a positive number means you're farsighted.
  • CYL (Cylinder): This shows if you have astigmatism. It measures how much correction is needed.
  • AXIS: The direction of astigmatism, measured in degrees.
  • ADD: Found in multifocal prescriptions (like bifocals) — it’s the extra strength for reading.
  • PD (Pupillary Distance): The distance between your pupils. This helps center your lenses for sharp vision.

🛍 How to Use It on SpecsAreUs

Once you've found a frame you love, we’ll guide you step-by-step to enter your prescription during checkout. Or you can just Upload it. It’s fast, secure, and 100% optometrist-approved. No guesswork needed!

Still not sure? Just Upload your Prescription — we’ll do the rest. Your perfect pair awaits. ✨