Difference between revisions of Guide:Reading glasses prescriptions

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How do you read these complicated things!? Believe it or not, they're actually pretty simple to understand. First things first, remember myopia is not a medical condition, it is a refractive error. Therefore, your "prescription" is much more accurately referred to as vision correction.
How do you read these complicated things!? Believe it or not, they're actually pretty simple to understand. First things first, remember myopia is not a medical condition, it is a refractive error. Therefore, your "prescription" is much more accurately referred to as vision [[correction]].


==Spherical==
==Spherical==
{{main|Spherical}}
{{main|Spherical}}
Spherical is the overall correction, in all directions. It is measured in [[diopters]]. A minus value means the lense is used correct [[myopia]] and a plus value means it is used to correct [[presbyopia]].
Spherical is the overall correction, in all directions. It is measured in [[diopters]]. A minus value means the lense is used correct [[myopia]] and a plus value means it is used to correct [[presbyopia]]and or [[hyperopia]].


==Cylinder==
==Cylinder==
{{main|Cylinder}}
{{main|Cylinder}}
Cylinder is the additional correction in a specific direction of your eye. It is measured in [[diopters]]. Think of a straight line going across the surface of your eye at a certain degree. The degree this happens at is your axis.
Cylinder is the additional correction in a specific direction of your eye. It is measured in [[diopters]]. Think of a straight line going across the surface of your eye at a certain degree. The degree this happens at is your [[axis]].


Cylinder correction means your eye has some level of [[astigmatism]].
Cylinder correction means your eye has some level of [[astigmatism]].
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==Axis==
==Axis==
{{main|Axis}}
{{main|Axis}}
Axis is the degree at which cylinder values are relevant. The correct cylinder value but the wrong axis value would make the correction pretty worthless! When reducing your correction, you should never ever change the axis, especially if you've had that value of axis for a long time.
[[Axis]] is the degree at which cylinder values are relevant. The correct cylinder value but the wrong axis value would make the correction pretty worthless! When reducing your correction, you should never ever change the axis, especially if you've had that value of axis for a long time.


If you don't have any cylinder correction, you will not have an axis value either.
If you don't have any cylinder correction, you will not have an axis value either.
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{{main|Prism}}
{{main|Prism}}
Prism is very rare on a prescription. It is effectively is an imbalance between how your two eyes see. It has been described as permanent [[double vision]].
Prism is very rare on a prescription. It is effectively is an imbalance between how your two eyes see. It has been described as permanent [[double vision]].


[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Guides]]

Revision as of 16:07, 11 February 2021

How do you read these complicated things!? Believe it or not, they're actually pretty simple to understand. First things first, remember myopia is not a medical condition, it is a refractive error. Therefore, your "prescription" is much more accurately referred to as vision correction.

Spherical

Spherical is the overall correction, in all directions. It is measured in diopters. A minus value means the lense is used correct myopia and a plus value means it is used to correct presbyopiaand or hyperopia.

Cylinder

Cylinder is the additional correction in a specific direction of your eye. It is measured in diopters. Think of a straight line going across the surface of your eye at a certain degree. The degree this happens at is your axis.

Cylinder correction means your eye has some level of astigmatism.

Since cylinder correction is in addition to spherical correction, what the cylinder correction does depends on the spherical correction:

Effect of including cylinder correction
Minus Sphere Plus Sphere
Minus Cyl Increases myopia correction Decreases presbyopia correction
Plus Cyl Decreases myopia correction Increases presbyopia correction

Axis

Axis is the degree at which cylinder values are relevant. The correct cylinder value but the wrong axis value would make the correction pretty worthless! When reducing your correction, you should never ever change the axis, especially if you've had that value of axis for a long time.

If you don't have any cylinder correction, you will not have an axis value either.

Prism

Prism is very rare on a prescription. It is effectively is an imbalance between how your two eyes see. It has been described as permanent double vision.