Understanding Your Child's Prescription
Prescription notation can be confusing. Here is a plain-English guide to each value on your child's prescription.
What the numbers mean
| Abbreviation | Full name | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| SPH | Sphere | Main lens power. Positive (+) = long-sighted. Negative (−) = short-sighted. Zero or "plano" = no distance correction needed in that eye. |
| CYL | Cylinder | Correction for astigmatism (irregular curve of the eye or cornea). May be blank if no astigmatism present. |
| AXIS | Axis | The orientation (in degrees) of the astigmatism correction. Only present if CYL has a value. Ranges 0–180. |
| ADD | Addition | Extra reading power for presbyopia. Rare in children — usually only present if specialist bifocal or varifocal lenses are prescribed. |
| PD | Pupillary Distance | Distance between pupils in mm. Required for centring lenses. See Find My PD. |
| R / RE / OD | Right eye | OD stands for "Oculus Dexter" — the right eye. |
| L / LE / OS | Left eye | OS stands for "Oculus Sinister" — the left eye. |
Common prescription types in children
Short-sightedness (Myopia)
SPH values are negative (e.g. −2.50). Child can see close objects clearly but struggles at distance. Very common in school-age children and increasing in prevalence.
Long-sightedness (Hyperopia)
SPH values are positive (e.g. +3.00). Child may see distance clearly but struggles at close range, or may experience eye strain and headaches. Young children often have a degree of physiological hyperopia that is normal.
Astigmatism
CYL and AXIS values present. Caused by irregular curvature of the cornea or eye. Often occurs alongside myopia or hyperopia. Can cause blurring or distortion at all distances.
Amblyopia / Lazy Eye
One eye may have a significantly stronger prescription than the other. Glasses are often the primary treatment, sometimes combined with patching therapy. Our Dispensing Optician will review these cases carefully.
Prescription validity
Children's prescriptions change more frequently than adults. Reframify Kids requires a prescription that is no more than 2 years old at the time of ordering. We recommend annual eye tests for all children wearing prescription lenses.