Understanding your prescription

Myopia - Shortsighted

A person with Myopia also referred to as being short-sighted; can see clearly at short distances. Distance vision would be blurred. 

The higher the prescription, the closer an object has to be for the person to see clearly.

A person with a myopic prescription will have a minus sign in front of the number that is under the SPH (Sphere) 

Minus lenses are thinnest in the centre of the spectacle lenses and become thicker towards the edges of the glasses. The higher the number, the thicker the edge of the glasses. Choosing a thin lenses option can help resolve this. See here

Hypermetropia - longsighted

A person with Hyperopia also referred to as being long-sighted; can generally see clearly at long distances. Near vision would be blurred. 

The higher the prescription, the further away an object has to be for the person to see clearer.

A person with a Hyperopic prescription will have a plus sign (or no sign, as per the example above) in front of the number that is under the SPH (Sphere) 

Plus lenses are thinnest at the edge of the spectacle lenses and become thicker towards the centre of the glasses. The higher the number, the thicker the centre of the glasses. Choosing a thin lenses option can help resolve this. See here

Astigmatism

The eye surface is like a rugby ball or egg shape. This shape creates astigmatism that has two focus points. These two focus points have different powers; which means people with astigmatism require a different correction in one part of the eye more than the other. 

A person with astigmatism can have a plus or a minus sign in front of their number, written under CYL(cylinder). Next to the CYL, there will be a number under AXIS. The axis determines the angle at which the correction needs to be. 

Presbyopia

Inside the eye, there is a lens, which changes shape when we look at near distance. This lens is very flexible at birth. Over time this becomes less flexible. This is when reading glasses help to make up for the loss of clarity for in near vision. This is known as Presbyopia.

If you have Presbyopia, you will have a number next to 'ADD' on your prescription supplied to you by your Optometrist. An Intermediate ADD is given sometimes if you need glasses for a specific working distance. If you are unsure as to which 'ADD' to enter in the prescription form, then, take a photo of your prescription and email it to us on myglasses@madaboutspecs.co.uk or info@madaboutspecs.co.uk 

The Optometrist will then contact you to confirm your prescription.

If you have a distance and reading correction, then you can either go for two separate pairs of single vision lenses or varifocals.  

Prism and Base go together and is required when the two eyes strain to work together. The Prism helps light entering the eye deviate to the correct focus point without the eye muscle having to move much. The Base is the direction to which the light will go. We don't have Prism and Base on the prescription form, but you can take a photo of your prescription and email it to us on myglasses@madaboutspecs.co.uk or info@madaboutspecs.co.uk  or call us for help. 

Buying prescription glasses online.

Buying glasses online can be done in 4 simple steps; 

- Select the glasses you like.

- Choose the lenses you want by selecting the tab 'add prescription.'

- Email us a snapshot photo of your prescription or enter it in the prescription form.

- Check out

Your glasses will be processed by our team of Optometrists and Lab Techs. 

Pupillary Distance PD

Your Pupillary distance is the distance between your eyes. It measured between the centre of your pupils.

Your PD allows us to place your lens in the middle of the glasses that match your pupil centre. This is to give you as much comfort as possible when looking through your pair of glasses.

If you don't have your PD, then don't worry we will email you easy instructions once you place your order. Alternatively, you can send your current glasses to us, and we can take the measurements from there. 

If you need help, email us on info@madaboutspecs.co.uk. Talk to us on live chat or call us on 0207 129 8657

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