Eyesight Prescription Explained

At the end of your eye test you will be given a prescription which will look something like the example below.

A prescription is usually valid for two years, but your optometrist may recommend that you have your eyes tested more frequently than this, depending on your particular circumstances.

Remember, an eye test does not only check that your prescription is right for you; it is also a check on the health of your eyes and visual system. Many eye diseases can go unnoticed until it is too late to treat them effectively so it is important to have regular eye tests even if you feel you can still see well.

What do your eye test results mean?

The "sph" box means sphere which represents the amount of long or short sight that is present.  The larger the number the stronger the lens required, and therefore the thicker the spectacle lens will be.  Plus lenses are used to correct long sight and minus lenses are used to correct short sight.

The "cyl" box for cylinder represents the amount of astigmatism that is present.  Astigmatism is caused when the eye is not completely spherical (like a football), its shaped more like a rugby ball.  This causes the vision to be distorted for both distance and near objects.  The cylinder may be plus or minus regardless of whether the sphere is positive or negative.

The "axis" box represents the orientation of the cylinder (from 0-180 degrees) and is the angle at which the lens is set into the frame.

The "prism" is the correction needed (if any) to align the eyes, so that they are looking straight and working well together.  A prism is a lens that bends the path of light without altering its focus.   

The "add"  box is the amount of correction that must be added to your prescription.

What kind of tests will I have at a laser eye surgery consultation?

If you visit our laser trained optometrists for a free consultation, they will undertake a number of tests that will determine your suitability for laser eye surgery, as well as check the general health of your eyes. These tests include:

• CustomVue Wavescan which provides data for Wavefront treatment to further customise laser eye surgery
• Visual Acuity Testing to measure how your eyes cope with reading at long and short distances
• Refraction and Cycloplegic Refraction to help your optometrist understand your prescription and the way it may change over time
• Retinal exam to determine the health of your eye

As well as a number of eye tests such as these, you'll also have your eyes examined by our specialist refractive optometrist and will have a patient-counsellor follow-up discussion to discuss your results.

Common eye conditions that can be treated with laser eye surgery

People who suffer from common eye conditions such as short sightedness, also known as myopia, long sightedness, technically termed hyperopia, and astigmatism, a curving of the cornea that can result in blurred vision, can all potentially have their vision corrected with the help of laser eye surgery.

If you'd like to find out whether you are suitable for laser eye surgery, book a free laser eye consultation today.