# Post your vision prescription **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 23, 2016, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951 "2016-03-23T14:53:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/1 "2016-03-23T14:53:39Z")
In the spirit of the threads about weight and pants color, I thought it might be interesting for Dopers to see how well other Dopers can see. It’s on my mind because I just visited the eye doctor. I check in as follows: O.D. -7.25 -1.25 x 020 O.S. -8.75 -1.25 x 165 Add +1.50 By the way, I generally understand what each column of numbers means, but if there’s an eye doctor in the house who wants to give a little explanation, I’m sure we’d all benefit. Finally, how many of you can outdo the myopia in my left eye? I’m told it’s a bit extreme. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/2 "2016-03-23T15:46:47Z")
RT: -6.75 -0.50 008 +1.25 LT: -8.75 -0.75 163 +1.25 Looks like we’re bats of a feather. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/3 "2016-03-23T15:56:12Z")
SPH CYL AXIS OD: -14.00 3.00 80 OS: -13.00 3.25 80 That’s cute that you guys think you have bad eyes. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/4 "2016-03-23T16:09:29Z")
OD +50 -100 x2 OS +350 -25 x48 Without my glasses I feel drunk. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/5 "2016-03-23T16:22:21Z")
```auto Sph Cyl Axis OD -6.00 -0.25 080 OS -5.50 -0.25 010 ``` Done June of last year. I’ve worn glasses since the third grade, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/6 "2016-03-23T16:25:35Z")
SPH CYL AXIS OD: -0.25 -1.00 120 OS: -1.00 -1.00 070 I don’t know what the numbers mean, but it looks like mine’s weak sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/7 "2016-03-23T17:01:29Z")
[Here’s a good website about what these numbers and abbreviations mean.](http://www.allaboutvision.com/eyeglasses/eyeglass-prescription.htm) ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/8 "2016-03-23T17:17:46Z")
OD: -0.25 -2.50 x025 (after cataract) OS: Balance (no vision) Add: +2.75 ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/9 "2016-03-23T17:34:11Z")
Right sphere -2.75, cylinder -1.50, axis 080 Left sphere -3.00, cylinder -0.25, axis 015 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/10 "2016-03-23T18:33:10Z")
R -0.50 -1.75 082 L -0.50 -1.5 098 Add +2.00 ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/11 "2016-03-23T18:52:29Z")
> [@MoonMoon](#): > > SPH CYL AXIS > > OD: -14.00 3.00 80 > OS: -13.00 3.25 80 > > That’s cute that you guys think you have bad eyes. 😉 Are the cyls plus or minus? It makes a huge difference. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/12 "2016-03-23T19:38:58Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > Are the cyls plus or minus? It makes a huge difference. Ooops, those should be negative. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/13 "2016-03-23T19:47:26Z")
All I remember is that I’m nearsighted and it’s about -5. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/14 "2016-03-23T21:11:46Z")
> [@MoonMoon](#): > > SPH CYL AXIS > > OD: -14.00 3.00 80 > OS: -13.00 3.25 80 > > That’s cute that you guys think you have bad eyes. 😉 Awesome! Your eyes are as long as **SpoilerVirgin** ’s and mine laid end to end! So far for the thread, you win the prize. I’ll just put it down here, two feet in front of you. It’s there, trust me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/15 "2016-03-23T21:51:24Z")
I don’t know all the numbers off the top of my head, but both my eyes are -2.25. Which is nice as I only have to order one type of contact lens. The ‘L’ and the ‘R’ on the lens case means nothing to me. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/16 "2016-03-23T23:08:37Z")
I’ll let you know next Tuesday, after my next appointment with the eye doctor. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/17 "2016-03-23T23:55:15Z")
I guess mine’s kinda medium-sauce compared to some of you. ``` Bifocal (SPH) (CYL) Axis NV-ADD ``` OD -3.75 +0.75 75 +1.75 OS -5.75 +2.50 118 +1.75 PD R: 29.0 L: 30.0 My left lens can get a little heavy with the astigmatism, unless I get the super thin plastic that’s of course most expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/18 "2016-03-24T00:50:17Z")
Cowbell ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/19 "2016-03-24T02:43:58Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I guess mine’s kinda medium-sauce compared to some of you. > > ``` > Bifocal > > (SPH) (CYL) Axis NV-ADD > > ``` > > OD -3.75 +0.75 75 +1.75 > OS -5.75 +2.50 118 +1.75 > > PD R: 29.0 L: 30.0 > > My left lens can get a little heavy with the astigmatism, unless I get the super thin plastic that’s of course most expensive. To compare a minus cylinder Rx with a plus cylinder one it’s necessary to convert one of them. This is done by adding the cyl power to the sphere power, flipping the cylinder signs, and rotating by 90°. In your case it would be: OD -3.00 -0.75 75 +1.75 OS -3.25 -2.50 118 +1.75 It’s still a fair amount of power, especially with that much astigmatism correction in the left eye. Optometrists usually write the Rx in minus cyl and ophthalmologists usually write them in plus cylinder. Technically, plus cylinder means the cylinder is ground on the front of the lens and minus means it’s ground on the back. In practice, nearly all lenses are really made in minus cylinder. The difference to the wearer is very subtle and not even noticeable to most people. In the rare event that the OMD really wants plus cylinder, that will be noted on the Rx, and the lenses will cost more, since it requires the lab firing up seldom used equipment that a lot of labs don’t even have. I don’t know how much more, because in 15 years of opticianry I never saw a job that really called for plus cylinder. I did frequently see patients who thought they had a huge change because their old Rx was written in plus and the new one in minus or vice-versa. In case you didnt know, OD stands for right eye (in Latin) and OS stands for left eye (also in Latin) Cowbell!? ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951/20 "2016-03-24T03:50:51Z")
I dunno, my eye guy is an O.D. and the Rx is written in plus cylinder. Zenni seems to understand and they always get my Rx perfect? I did a copy and paste directly from my Rx pdf in my email. And yes, in veterinary medicine we use many of the same terms, OD, OS, OU, AD, AS, AU, with meds given via any of those routes plus PO, and common frequencies SID, BID, TID, QID, QOD. But for eye Rx, I’m not familiar with the ins and outs since we don’t make glasses for doggies and kitties! The cowbell reference, dunno that either. (I mean, I do, but not how it’s relevant to glasses.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-vision-prescription/749951.md?page=2)