How To Read Your Glasses Prescription
A crucial part of ordering your next pair of glasses, from David Kind or any brand, is ensuring your eyeglass prescription is up to date. Being able to read your prescription on your own gives you a greater sense of the changes that occur in your eyes. The prescription you receive from your optometrist might be confusing at first, but knowing your way around this information is helpful! We’ll provide a few tips on how to read your eyeglass prescription and the key points to pay attention to.
Nearsighted
Also known as Myopia, “nearsightedness” is a condition where close objects appear clearly, but those far away do not. If you are Myopic your prescription will include a number with a minus symbol in the sphere column. The sphere correction indicates the amount of lens power, which is measured in diopters.
Farsighted
Also known as Hyperopia, “farsightedness” causes nearby objects to be blurry, while those in the distance are clear. If you are hyperopic your prescription will include a number with a plus symbol in the sphere column.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a condition where the front surface of the eye is curved differently causing streaked or stretched vision, headaches and eye strain. If you have astigmatism correction your prescription will include a number in the cylinder column, as well as a number in the axis column.
Bifocal & Progressive Lenses
A multifocal prescription will include an ADD value. Typically these prescriptions are recommended starting in your 40s, but there are always cases that fall outside of the norm. The bifocal or lined bifocal corrects for distance and reading only. The progressive corrects for distance, intermediate and reading, all in one lens.
All of this leads us to the question, how often should you get an eye exam? We generally recommend a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years to check your vision and eye health. You might notice that your habits begin to change in order to make adjustments for your vision. Signs of these changes include: pulling things closer or holding them further away from your face. Headaches are also a common sign that your eyesight is strained or that you might need to update your prescription for your changing eyes. If you begin to notice a difference in your eyesight, we recommend reaching out to an optometrist for an exam.
While new prescriptions are recommended every 1-2 years, well-made frames, like a timeless pair from David Kind, can last you years without being replaced. If you have a pair of David Kind frames but only need new lenses, you can update your lenses here. If you have questions regarding your current prescription, or what frame might be best for your RX, reach out to optician@davidkind.com. Our team is always happy to help!