PRESCRIPTIONS
WHAT ARE PRESCRIPTIONS?
Prescriptions refer to written authorizations for a patient to purchase medications to treat specific conditions. For a prescription to be legally accepted, it needs to be written by an authorized physician, dentist, psychiatrist, ophthalmologist, optometrist, and any other doctors officially recognized by law.
Every medical profession has its own rules and limits with what kind of prescriptions they can provide.
RISK FACTORSaPRESCRIPTIONS IN OPTOMETRY
Optometrists are state-licensed medical professionals who specialize in eye health. Optometrists examine, diagnose, and treat various eye conditions such as diseases, injuries, and disorders. They can prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses when necessary. For example, they are the ones who diagnose refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, astigmatism etc.) and prescribe corrective contact lenses and eyeglasses.
They are also authorized to prescribe ophthalmic drops to treat conditions such as glaucoma.
THE OPTICIANS’ ROLE
Once your optometrist has written your prescription, the opticians manage what happens next. Opticians work in a lab and use manufacturing machines to cut lenses based on optometrists’ prescriptions. At Eyepic, we use the most advanced technology and best lens brands to ensure that all our patients receive the best eyeglasses possible. Using the best optical machines ensure quality control over the final product and allow us to achieve superior vision care.
EXAMPLES OF EYEGLASSES PRESCRIPTIONS
Nearsighted prescriptions
This kind of prescription will have a negative number in the sphere box. This signifies that you will have lenses that will be cut to improve your distance vision.
Farsighted prescriptions
Patients who are farsighted will see a positive number in the sphere box. This shows that the prescribed lenses should be shaped to correct near vision.
Astigmatism prescriptions
With astigmatism prescriptions, the cylinder column will have a number to indicate the lens power needed to correct astigmatism. A number will also appear in the axis area. This is needed to correct astigmatism.
Abbreviations
OD – This means ‘oculus dexter’, which is the Latin translation for ‘right eye’
OS – This means ‘oculus sinister’, which is the Latin translation for ‘left eye’
Sphere – This is the degree of correction needed to correct the near of farsightedness
Cylinder – This represents the lens power that will be needed to correct astigmatism
Axis – The axis is the orientation of astigmatism. It is measured from 1 to 180.
Prism – The prism number indicates the prismatic power needed to compensate for any alignment problems in your eyes. It is measured in diopters.
Base – The base indicates the direction of the prism. The orientation of the prism will be noted BU (base up), BD (base down), BI (base in), or BO (base out).
Add – This number is associated with either of the previous terms. It indicates the additive power needed to correct immediate near vision if the prescription is for distance correction.
Pupillary Distance (PD) – This is the distance from the center of one pupil to the center of the other. This allows lens customization.