Your prescription can be written in different ways, and your Spectacle prescription is usually different to your Contact Lens prescription. Here is a short explanation as to how to interpret your prescription. This will help you in ordering correctly online. Of course, we are always happy to help you, so please contact us if you would like further assistance.

The Right and Left
The right eye may be written as right, R, RE or OD. The left eye may be written as left, L, LE or OS.

Sphere Power
The Sphere power is the first number in the prescription. It is usually a + (plus) or - (minus) number, but can be 0.00 (or plano, pl, or just left blank).

Cylinder Power
The Cylinder power is the second number in the prescription. It is not included in every prescription. If included, it is usually a - (minus) number.

Cylinder Axis
The Cylinder Axis is The third part of the prescription is the cylinder axis. If there is a cyl included in the prescription, the cyl power will be followed by an ‘x’ then a number. This is the cylinder axis.

Add
Add is in some contact lens prescriptions The Add is the additional power, added on to the sphere power, to give the reading prescription for those who need it. With contact lenses this may be a numerical value, or it may be written as Low, Med or High.

Lens Type
Lens Type is also part of the contact lens prescription and is the type of lens prescribed, eg Acuvue Oasys. Bupa Optical can only supply the contact lenses specified in your prescription.

Base Curve
The Base Curve is on some contact lenses prescriptions and is the Base Curve (the overall curvature of the lens) and the Diameter (the width of the lens) specified. If this is the case for your lenses it will be included on your prescription.