1. Health

Discuss in my forum

Eyeglass Prescription

By , About.com Guide

Updated June 02, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Eyeglass Prescription

Eyeglass Rx

© 2009 Troy Bedinghaus licensed to About.com, Inc.
Definition: An eyeglass prescription, similar to a medical prescription, is an order written by an optometrist, ophthalmologist, orthoptist or an optician for eyeglasses. An eyeglass prescription specifies the refractive power in which a pair of eyeglasses should be made in order to correct blurred vision due to refractive errors.

It is usually determined by the use of a phoropter, an autorefractor or through retinoscopy.

Eyeglass prescriptions are written with specific numbers and Latin abbreviations. This standardized format makes prescriptions possible to be interpreted worldwide.

Also Known As: spectacle prescription

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.

A part of The New York Times Company.

We comply with the HONcode standard
for trustworthy health
information: verify here.