MySpecs Help
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Understanding Your Prescription
Below, we briefly explain the different components to your prescription. If you are still having difficulty understanding your prescription you can scan & email it to sales@myspecs.co.uk or alternatively, you can fax it to 01261 831634.
  SPH CYL AXIS PRISM
RE PL -0.75 75  
LE +1.75 -1.25 30  
         
Near/Reading Add:   +2.00    
Intermediate Add:   n/a    
Above you will see an example of how most opticians display your prescription. You should find it fairly easy to transfer this to our order forms. However, we understand that it can be confusing so please see the translations below which explain each part of your prescription.

RE = Right eye prescription
LE = Left eye prescription

SPH= sphere = this indicates the power of lens required to correct your vision. Can be displayed as either a plus "+" figure (for reading/long sighted prescriptions), a minus "-" figure (for distance/short sighted prescriptions) or as a zero figure (plano, 0 or a symbol that looks like an open ended figure of 8 on its side)

CYL = cylinder = together with AXIS, aides the compensation for an astigmatism. An astigmatism is where the eye ball does not form a perfect sphere & cannot focus at certain angles). Don't worry though, your prescription is perfectly normal with or without the CYL & AXIS!

CYL can be displayed as a "+" figure, a "-" figure or will be blank (if it has DS, this is the same as zero)

AXIS = see above. Will be displayed as a figure between 0 and 180. AXIS is only applicable when there is a CYL figure.

ADD = NEAR ADDITION = READING ADDITION = This is the correction for your reading requirements. This particular measurement is used for manufacturing single vision reading spectacles, bifocals and varifocals.

PD = Pupillary Distance = the distance between your pupils. Used to ensure the optical centre of the lens is matched to the centre of your vision

Please note, not all prescriptions will include all of the information indicated. If you have any problems at all transferring the data from your prescription to our order forms, send your prescription to us by faxing (01261 831634) or scanning & emailing to help@myspecs.co.uk. Remember to include contact details so that we can get back to you.

Further examples:
  SPH CYL AXIS PRISM
RE -1.25 ds    
LE -0.50 +0.75 30  
         
Near/Reading Add:   +1.75    
Intermediate Add:   n/a    
  SPH CYL AXIS PRISM
RE -0.50 -0.50 2.5  
LE -1.00 -0.75 75  
         
Near/Reading Add:   n/a    
Intermediate Add:   n/a