For those ordering prescription lenses from Lensabl, you will have to send us a copy of your prescription (Rx). However, not all prescriptions are written the same, and all the numbers and abbreviations can be confusing. 

Below is a guide on inputting your Rx (prescription) properly so we can get you seeing clearly as soon as possible 🙂

  • OD: Stands for “oculus dextrus”, Latin for your right eye.
  • OS: Stands for “oculus sinister”, Latin for your left eye.
  • Sphere (SPH): This indicates the lens power, prescribed to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness.
    • If the number has a minus sign (–), you are nearsighted
    • If the number has a plus (+), you are farsighted
  • Cylinder (CYL): This indicates the lens power for astigmatism. If nothing appears in this column, either you have no astigmatism, or your astigmatism is so slight that it is not necessary to correct it.
    • If the number has a minus sign (–), you have a nearsighted astigmatism
    • If the number has a plus sign (+), you have a farsighted astigmatism  
    • Cylinder power is always after sphere power in an eyeglass prescription.
  • Axis: The axis defines the location of the sphere and cylinder powers on the lens with a number ranging from 1 to 180.
  • PD: Stands for “pupillary distance”, the distance between your pupils.
  • Add: This is the additional reading lens power for the lower segment on your progressive lenses.
  • Prism Correction: This correction is for those who either have exotropia or esotropia. It will cost an additional $10/eye for correction.

Now that you know what it all means, here is how to make sure your prescription is valid.

  • If there is a CYLINDER, there must be an AXIS.
  • If there is an AXIS, there must be a CYLINDER.
  • CYLINDER values must be either both positive or both negative values.
  • If it says “SPH” or “SPHERE” for you CYLINDER,  that means that there is only a correction for your sphere, not that they have the same value.
  • If you order progressive/bifocal lenses, your prescription must have an ADD value.
  • If you have an Rx for progressive lenses, but want to order single vision lenses for reading, then you will have to convert your Rx by simply adding the ADD values to your SPH, and that’ll be your new SPH.
    • Ex: If you have a SPH of +4.00 and an ADD of +2.00, then your new SPH value will be +6.00
    • For single vision for distance lenses, you can ignore your ADD values and just use the rest of the Rx normally

If you follow all of these, then there should be no problem with creating your new replacement lenses!