Does any one knows how to read a eyeglass prescription?!
Question:
Does any one knows how to read a eyeglass prescription?
I think I might be close to legally blind, but I can't get to doctor to explain my eyeglass prescription, I just don't know what all the numbers mean. For my right eye the doctor wrote: (sph) -50, (cyl) - 575, and (axis) 10. Then for my left eye it says: (sph) -225, (cyl) - 300, and (axis) 180. What the hell does this mean? Thanks to anyone who can tell me.
Answers:
The first number you see in an eyeglass prescription is the sphere "sph". This number indicates the degree of hyperopia (farsightedness) or myopia (nearsightedness) in the eye. Plus (+) power indicates hyperopia, while minus (–) power indicates myopia.
So since it is (-) you have myopia (nearsightedness) and the number just indicates the power in diopters that is needed in the lens to bend the light correctly on your retina. When you are myopic your eyeball is longer and the light focuses in front of your retina. You need a minus lens to bring the light to focus onto the retina.
Cylinder:
The second part of the of the prescription cylinder "cyl" indicates that you have an astigmatism. Astigmatism is the amount that the refractive structures of the eye (primarily, the front and back surfaces of the cornea and the front and back surfaces of the crystalline lens) vary or deviate from sphericity or a spherical shape. So it basically means your cornea or crystalline lens is shaped cylindrical like a football instead of spherical like a baseball. This causes the light to focus in two different locations on the retina causing blurry vision.
Axis:
The last number is the axis (you only have axis if you have cyl) The axis number doesn't mean that your vision is good or bad.....it is just the angle required for the prescription in your lenses to correct your vision
Because you have 2 different powers (sph and cyl) in each eye that means in each lens you need those 2 different powers in it. The axis just tells the person who makes the glasses at what angle each power is at.
You are myopic and have a significant amount of astigmatism you can tell if the "Cyl" number is higher.
Hope this helps a bit hun :)