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How to Read Your Eyeglass Prescription

Reading eyeglass prescriptions doesn't require special training or a medical degree—we've broken it down and simplified everything to make your online ordering experience a piece of cake! But, if you don’t have the time to peruse the instructions, leave the prescription fields blank. You can upload your prescription, call in your order, or give us your eye doctor's contact information and we’ll retrieve your prescription directly from them.

Sample Rx
Single Vision Prescription

Single Vision Lens Prescription

Single vision prescriptions are for patients who have trouble seeing either near or far (but not both), and the prescription will not have a value in the ADD column.


Progressive Lens Prescriptions

Progressive lenses are for patients who have trouble seeing both near and far. They essentially work the same way as bifocals, but they’re line-free and provide a graduated range of vision that varies from distant to close.

Progressive and bifocal prescriptions have a value in the ADD column, and they are almost always the same number for both eyes. However, if the letters PAL are next to one of the ADD numbers, or elsewhere on your prescription, this means your doctor indicated that you will need a different ADD correction for progressive lenses (versus lined bifocals). You'll use the number with PAL next to it when entering the ADD value of your progressive prescription. The PAL number will apply to both eyes.

Progressive Prescription

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our Customer Service Team. Need an updated prescription? Schedule an eye exam appointment today.

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