*VERY IMPORTANT – Do not fall for the most common mistake!* The single most common mistake when entering prescriptions online is selecting a “+”value instead of a “-” value or vice versa.

SPH (Sphere) on your prescription will consist of a + or – power (unless 0.00) in 0.25 steps. EG, -0.25, -0.50, -0.75, -1.00, -1.25 and so on. Opticians tent to write a dash above the value to show a – value or a + next to the value.

If your prescription has SPH values are higher than +6.00 or lower than -6.00 we may still be able to make your glasses. However, usually this will incur a surcharge. If you prescription is out of range call 0151 632 6611.

Sometimes your SPH will contain comments such as Plano, Infinity, ~ or ∞, These all mean the same thing 0.00.

*VERY IMPORTANT – Do not fall for the most common mistake!* The single most common mistake when entering prescriptions online is selecting a “+”value instead of a “-” value or vice versa.

CYL may consist of a + or – power in 0.25 steps. EG, -0.25, -0.50, -0.75, -1.00, -1.25 and so on. Opticians tent to write a dash above the value to show a – value or a + next to the value.

If your prescription has CYL values are higher than +3.00 or lower than -3.00 we may still be able to make your glasses. However, usually this will incur a surcharge. If you prescription is out of range call 0151 632 6611.

If your prescription has no CYL value for one eye or both this simply means there is not astigmatism in that eye and so no cyl correction is needed. If this is the case there should also be no AXIS value for that particular eye.

Sometimes, if no CYL correction is required, the optician may write “DS” which means “Dioptre Spheres” in the CYL box indicating that CYL is not required and you may simply leave the CYL option empty.

Will consist of a numerical value from 0 to 180, BUT, only when you have a CYL value. If there is no CYL value for a particular eye there will also be no AXIS value.

AXIS runs from 0 to 180.

In some rarer cases your optician may have givien your AXIS in between the values on our form EG: 95.5. If this is the case simply click on the link that says your prescription looks different and click the line “My AXIS has a fraction”. This will give you an additional field on the form to enter the fraction.

When you require glasses for “Reading”, “Bifocals” Or “Varifocals” you will have on your prescription a “Near Addition”. We “add” this value to your distance (SPH Values) prescription to ascertain your reading prescription and make your Reading, Bifocal or Varifocal glasses.

Note: Opticians can write the Add value anywhere on the prescription and the value applies to both eyes. Is may appear under each eye or one but the value always applies to both. They may write your reading addition using terms like these: “+1.50 ADD”, “Add +1.50”, “Reading Addition +1.50”, “Add +1.50 DS”.

However, In some case the optician may have given you your complete Distance prescription followed by your complete Reading.

If this is the case you will see 2 complete rows of values. You will also note that the CYL & AXIS values for each eye will be identical for both distance and near.

To enter a prescription like this in to our form click “My Prescription Looks Different To this Form” and then click “I have TWO complete rows of figures on my prescription.” this will change the form so you can enter both rows in full.

Your PD is the distance between the centre of one pupil to the centre of the other in millimeters. Opticians generally will not give this to you as they will probably figure that you wish to buy your glasses online and not from them.

In most cases, except for those with particularly high prescriptions, our defualt PD value will be fine.

HOWEVER, it is very simple to measure your own “PD”. The best way is to have a friend help you. Look at a point in the distance whilst your friend takes the measurement in millimeters, if you wanted to be super accurate measure the left side of the left pupil to the left side of the right pupil.

If you do have your PD on your prescription it may be one value EG 64 or two seperate values eg 32/33. If you have Two PD values click on the “My Prescription Looks Different” link and then click “I have 2 PD values”. this will give you a PD box for each eye to enter the two seperate numbers. The fist number is your right eye and the second your left.