What do prescriptions look like

It will contain terms, abbreviations, and numbers. Along the left-hand side, you might see these abbreviations. Here is what those abbreviations mean:. Along the top, you might see different verbiage that generally has to do with measurements related to different aspects of your vision. SPH- This is short for sphere, and basically tells you how powerful your prescription needs to be in order to correct your vision.

If you happen to see the letters ADD, this is how much more power you need if you are getting bifocals or progressive lenses. A physician may prescribe 1 pack of an oral contraceptive with 11 refills, which would last the patient a full year. This is convenient for both the patient and physician for any medications that will be used long term.

This example is a common medication prescribed when people are leaving the hospital. It is one mg tablet, taken at bedtime.

The prescription is for 30 pills and no refills. Zofran is a very popular anti-nausea medication used after surgery. This is not always the case, though. When the patient complains of nausea, the nurse can give this medication because it has been prescribed. This example shows a common way to write prescriptions for liquids, especially for children.

Liquids come in specific strengths per amount of liquid. Here, the strength is 10 mg per 5 mL. Email Address Please enter a valid email address. Thanks for subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions. Try Now. Prescription Writing with Example Prescriptions. OS is your left eye. Your vision prescription may also have a column labeled "OU.

These abbreviated terms are common on prescriptions for glasses, contact lenses and eye medicines, but some doctors and clinics have opted to modernize their eye prescriptions by using RE right eye and LE left eye instead of OD and OS. The information for your right eye OD always comes before the information for your left eye OS.

Eye doctors write prescriptions this way because, when they face you, they see your right eye on their left first and your left eye on their right second. Sphere indicates the amount of lens power prescribed to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness.

Lens power is measured in diopters D. If the number under this heading comes with a minus sign — , you are nearsighted. The term "sphere" means that the correction for nearsightedness or farsightedness is "spherical," or equal in all meridians of the eye. Cylinder indicates the amount of lens power needed for astigmatism. It always follows the sphere power on an eyeglass prescription.

The number in the cylinder column may have a minus sign for correction of nearsighted astigmatism or a plus sign for farsighted astigmatism. The term "cylinder" means that this lens power added to correct astigmatism is not spherical, but instead is shaped so one meridian has no added curvature, and the meridian perpendicular to this "no added power" meridian contains the maximum power and lens curvature to correct astigmatism.

How bad is my eye prescription? What the numbers mean. Medically reviewed by Ann Marie Griff, O. Understanding prescriptions Changes Improving vision Summary Many people wonder how bad their eye prescription is, especially as the numbers and symbols are often difficult to interpret. How to read an eye prescription. Share on Pinterest A person may require a different eye prescription for each eye.

Why does my prescription change? Protecting and improving vision. Latest news Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage.