Understanding your contact lens prescription can be tough if you aren’t familiar with the different numbers and abbreviations that eye doctors use. Looking at it, you might be wondering: Which numbers correspond to which eye? Where’s the strength of my contact prescription? And what is “BC”? (Hint: It’s not British Columbia.)
There may even be more information on your contact prescription than your glasses prescription—and yes, the two prescriptions are different.
Thankfully, learning how to read your contact prescription is easy. We’ll go over all the terms you’re likely to see for the different types of contact lenses, whether your prescription is on paper or on a box.
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Your contact lens prescription probably looks like a small table or grid. In that grid, you’ll see a mix of letters and numbers, each one corresponding to a crucial element of your prescription.
Because many people need different levels or kinds of vision correction in each eye, contact lens prescriptions usually have two sets of numbers on them—one for your right eye, and one for your left. Here are the abbreviations you’ll almost always see on any contact prescription:
OD: Oculus dexter, meaning your right eye.
OS: Oculus sinister, meaning your left eye.
Brand: The brand of contact lenses prescribed by your optometrist. Different brands have different features and measurements. You can only order the brand that’s listed on your prescription—if you ever want to switch brands or try a new one, let your optometrist know.
BC: BC stands for base curve, which is the curvature of your contact lens (you wouldn’t find this abbreviation on a glasses prescription). It’s measured in millimeters (mm) and should align well with the curvature of your eye. It’s always a number between 8 and 9. Some brands of contacts only come in a single base curve, and may not have a number listed. And, if you switch brands, you might get prescribed a different base curve. There are minute variations in fit across manufacturers, so it’s always important to consult with an optometrist before changing the contacts you wear.
DIA: DIA stands for diameter, which is the full width of your contact lens (this is another abbreviation exclusive to contacts). It’s also measured in millimeters. Your contact lens diameter should fit comfortably over your cornea, and is typically between 14 to 14.5.
PWR/SPH: PWR or SPH stand for power or sphere, respectively. These terms are interchangeable, and they refer to the strength of your prescription. You’ll see a positive or negative number in this field. It represents the power of vision correction you need in diopters. These values can vary between your glasses and contacts prescriptions. Negative numbers correspond to nearsightedness, and positive numbers correspond to farsightedness.
Expiration Date: Most contact prescriptions expire in 1 to 2 years (expiration dates do vary from state to state, however). You’ll need to renew or update your prescription by this date if you want to order new contacts.
How To Read a Contact Lens Prescription for Astigmatism
If you have astigmatism in one or both eyes, you’ll notice two additional terms and numbers on your prescription for toric contact lenses. (Note that in some cases, you might have an astigmatism for your glasses prescription, but not for your contacts.)
CYL: CYL stands for cylinder. If you have astigmatism, you’ll need a cylindrical rather than a spherical lens. That’s just a technical way of saying that the lens will correct your vision differently in different areas of the eye. The cylinder portion of your contact prescription is measured in diopters and represents the severity of your astigmatism. It can be a positive or negative number.
AXIS: Axis is measured in degrees and always accompanies the cylinder measurement on a contact prescription. The axis tells you where your astigmatism is located and how it’s oriented on your eye. It’s always between 0 and 180 degrees.
How To Read a Multifocal Contact Lens Prescription for Presbyopia
If you have presbyopia and are a good candidate for multifocal contact lenses, you’ll see one or both of the following terms on your prescription. Sometimes these are referred to as progressive contacts.
ADD: ADD stands for addition or additional magnification. It might also be listed as “Add Power” or “Extra Strength.” This is another measure of vision correction for near vision that will help with close-up tasks. It will either be a number in diopters, or be a written level: low, medium, or high.
D/N: D/N stands for dominant or nondominant eye—multifocal and bifocal contacts have different levels of vision correction for each. Your dominant eye is associated with distance vision, and your nondominant eye is associated with near vision. Only some brands of multifocal contacts use D/N, so you might not see this term on your prescription.
Below are a few examples of what your contact lens prescription might look like, depending on the type of vision correction you need. See if you can identify and interpret all of the abbreviations we listed above!
Example of a Contact Lens Prescription for Nearsightedness
Example of a Contact Lens Prescription for Astigmatism
Example of a Contact Lens Prescription for Presbyopia
How To Read a Contact Lens Prescription on the Box
Contact lens prescription details are often printed on the side of the box of contacts. These can look slightly different from the actual prescription you receive after a contact lens exam (for instance, the prescription expiration date and your doctor’s information will not be on the box), but the prescription strength information should all match up. Look for the familiar abbreviations and terms and ensure that they align with your prescription from the optometrist.
Understanding Your Contact Lens Prescription Helps You To Know Your Eyes Better
Any product that’s going into (or on top of) your eyes shouldn’t be a mystery. Contact lens prescriptions might seem like they’re written in a secret code at first, but they’re easily decipherable once you know what all those abbreviations and numbers mean. By learning how to read your contact prescription, you’re taking charge of your eye health!
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