How to Read an Eyeglass Prescription?
Reading your glasses prescription can be tricky because of the variety of numbers, terms, and symbols. But they’re written in a standard format, making them decipherable anywhere in the world.
OD vs. OS
They are used to identify your right eye from the left. OD is short for Oculus Dexter and is your right eye, while your left eye is OC or Oculus Sinister.
Plus sign (+) or no sign vs. Minus sign (-)
A plus sign or no sign means you have farsightedness, and a minus sign indicates nearsightedness. You’ll need a stronger vision correction the higher the number is after the sign.
Sphere (SPH)
Indicates whether you have nearsightedness or farsightedness.
Cylinder (CYL)
This tells the degree of astigmatism in your eyes. The lens power to correct it will depend on the number given to you.
Axis (AX or X)
The numbers here are in degrees from 0 to 180. It tells the astigmatism position in your eyes.
