
2020 VISION PRESCRIPTION PLUS
If this number has a minus sign (–), you are nearsighted if the number has a plus sign (+) or is not preceded by any sign, you are farsighted. This number tells you how strong your lenses need to be to correct your vision. The next term on your prescription is Sphere (SPH) and is are measured in diopters (D).If both eyes are being referred to the abbreviation you will see is OU (oculus uterque) meaning both eyes. OD is an abbreviation for oculus dexter, meaning right eye, while OS is oculus sinister, meaning left eye.In any case, it is written in a specific order, with the results for each eye listed first. The prescription you receive may be a chart with headings that are filled in, or it may just be written out. Each eye is tested separately as your eyes are designed to compensate for each other and would not give an accurate reading. Any line below that would be 20/15 or below and indicates that you have exceptional visual acuity. If you can read the fourth line from the bottom of most charts, you vision is 20/20. That means you can read a letter at 20 feet that people with “normal” vision can read at 200 feet, meaning you have very poor visual acuity. If during an eye test you can read the big E at the top of the eye chart, but none of the letters below that, your vision is considered 20/200. The number is based on you standing a distance of 20 feet (considered to be the norm) in front of a Snellen or Tumbling E eye chart to test your visual acuity. Types of refractive errors include being near-sighted (myopia), far-sighted (presbyopia) or having an astigmatism (your cornea is an irregular shape). This means your eyes have trouble focusing and images can appear blurry.

If you need eyeglasses it is because you were diagnosed with a refractive error during your eye exam.
