Prescription Guide
Ordering prescription glasses online can feel confusing at first, but most prescriptions follow a simple structure. This guide explains the most common terms you may see when entering your prescription at JoyeGlasses.
What You Need
Before ordering prescription lenses, please prepare your most recent prescription from your eye doctor or optometrist.
Your prescription may include:
OD
Right eye
OS
Left eye
SPH
Sphere power
CYL
Cylinder power
AXIS
Astigmatism direction
ADD
Additional reading power for progressive or reading lenses
PD
Pupillary distance
Current Online Configurator Input Ranges
The ranges below describe what the current JoyeGlasses online prescription form accepts. They are input limits for the website, not a statement of manufacturing capability and not a clinical recommendation.
| Field | Current online input range | Step / requirement |
|---|---|---|
| SPH | -12.00 to +8.00 | 0.25 increments |
| CYL | -6.00 to 0.00 | 0.25 increments |
| AXIS | 0 to 180 | Whole numbers; required when a non-zero CYL value is entered |
| Single PD | 40 to 80 mm | 0.5 mm increments |
| Dual PD | 20 to 45 mm per eye | 0.5 mm increments for RPD and LPD |
| ADD | +0.75 to +3.50 | 0.25 increments; required for Progressive |
If your prescription contains values or fields that the online form does not support, please contact us before ordering. This includes prescriptions written with a positive CYL value, prism or base information, or other details that cannot be entered exactly as written. Do not transpose, estimate, or alter prescription values just to fit the online form.
OD and OS
OD means right eye.
OS means left eye.
When entering your prescription, make sure the numbers are placed under the correct eye.
SPH
SPH stands for sphere. It shows the main lens power needed for nearsightedness or farsightedness.
A minus value, such as -2.00, usually means nearsighted correction.
A plus value, such as +1.50, usually means farsighted correction.
CYL
CYL stands for cylinder. It is used for astigmatism correction.
If your prescription does not include CYL or AXIS, leave those fields blank and enter the remaining prescription values exactly as shown on your prescription.
If the lens configurator asks for a value you do not have, or you are unsure how to enter your prescription, please contact us before ordering.
AXIS
AXIS works together with CYL. It shows the direction of astigmatism correction and is usually written as a number between 1 and 180.
If your prescription has CYL, it should also have AXIS.
PD
PD stands for pupillary distance. It measures the distance between the centers of your pupils.
PD helps position the lenses correctly in your frame.
Your PD may be written as one number, such as 63, or two numbers, such as 31.5 / 31.5.
ADD
ADD is usually used for progressive lenses, bifocal lenses, or reading support.
If you are ordering progressive lenses, please make sure your prescription includes ADD.
Single Vision
Single vision lenses are used for one main vision distance, such as distance vision or reading vision.
Choose single vision if your prescription is for one correction type only.
Progressive Lenses
Progressive lenses support distance, intermediate, and near vision in one pair of glasses.
Choose progressive lenses if your prescription includes ADD and you need multifocal support.
Readers
Readers are used for simple reading magnification.
Choose readers if you only need reading power and do not need a full prescription.
If You Are Not Sure
Enter your prescription details during lens selection. If you are unsure how to enter your prescription, or if any information is missing or unclear, please contact us before ordering.
We will review your lens selection before preparing your glasses. If something is unclear, we may contact you for confirmation.
Important Reminder
Please make sure your prescription is accurate and up to date before ordering. JoyeGlasses cannot replace professional eye care advice. If you are unsure about your prescription, please check with your eye doctor or optometrist.