Firstly, let's familiarize ourselves with the terms OD and OS: These stand for "oculus dexter" and "oculus sinister," Latin for right eye and left eye, respectively. Your eyeglass prescription may also have a section named OU, which is an abbreviation for the Latin term "oculus uterque," meaning "both eyes."

Sphere (SPH) is basically the power of the lens that will help you see better, whether you are myopic (a condition in which you have minus spherical power) or hypermetropic (a condition in which you have plus spherical power). A minus sign (-) before the number indicates near sightedness, while a plus sign (+) indicates farsightedness.

Cylinder (CYL) shows the amount of lens power required to fix astigmatism, and this power can be positive or negative.

Axis tells us in which direction the cylindrical lens is placed, and it is measured in degrees.

Add is present for the condition named presbyopia (a condition in which you have additional magnifying power for reading). Generally, patients above the age of 35 years have this kind of power.

Prism: In the case of a prism prescription, it will be indicated along with the direction of the base.

V/A (visual acuity) tells about how clearly your vision is from a certain distance (usually it is 6 meters or 20 feet). It is shown as a fraction that represents how sharp a person can see compared to normal vision.

An eye prescription might include other measurements and terms, but these are the basic elements you'll find on most prescriptions. If there’s any problem related to your eyes, it is always a good idea to get them checked by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Understanding your eye prescription: A beginner’s guide

You have recently got your eyes checked and it is tough for you to understand those numbers and the meaning of 6/6 and a series of abbreviations.

Firstly, let's familiarize ourselves with the terms OD and OS: These stand for "oculus dexter" and "oculus sinister," Latin for right eye and left eye, respectively. Your eyeglass prescription may also have a section named OU which is an abbreviation for the Latin term

“oculus uterque” means “both eyes”

Sphere (SPH) is the power of the lens that will help you to see better, whether you are myopic (a condition in which you’ve minus spherical power) or hypermetropic(a condition in which you’ve plus spherical power). minus sign (-) before the number indicates near-sightedness, while a plus sign (+) indicates farsightedness.

Cylinder (CYL)shows the amount of lens power required to fix astigmatism and this power can be positive or negative.

Axis: It tells us in which direction the cylindrical lens is placed and it is measured in degrees.

Adding it iscpresent in the condition named presbyopic (a condition in which you have additional magnifying power for reading), generally patients older than 35 years have this kind of power.

Prism: In the case of prism prescription, it is implied along the direction of the base.

V/A visual acuity tells about how clear your vision is from a certain distance (usually it is 6 meters or 20 feet ) it is shown in fractions which represent how sharp a person can see as compared to a normal person's eyes

An eye prescription might include other measurements and terms, but these are the basic elements you'll find on most prescriptions. If there are any problems related to your eyes, it is always a good idea to get your eyes checked by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist.

The science behind the 6/6 vision ...

When we think about perfect vision, we often think of a 6/6 or 20/20 vision. You may be wondering about the meaning of this. So, let's start by understanding the terms "visual acuity" and "visual acuity score". Visual acuity measures how one's eyes can see from a specific distance and is represented as a fraction, known as the visual acuity score

Just remember this: When we talk about 6/6 or 20/20, visual acuity of 20/20 refers to normal vision in some places, measured in feet, while the Indian equivalent is 6/6, measured in meters. This measurement is usually done using Snellen's chart.

Why does everyone have different visual acuity levels,

such as 6/6, 6/9, or 6/36?

Let's dive in and explore the meaning of these terms. Essentially, these are scores that measure visual acuity. It signifies the capacity to perceive an object 6 meters away as opposed to an individual with typical vision.

For example, if your vision is 6/6, it means you can see objects perfectly from 6 meters. In medical terms, this is referred to as emmetropic eye, while in simpler terms, it means your eyes are healthy concerning vision.

Another example is if your vision is 6/12. This indicates that a person with healthy or emmetropic eyes can see a particular letter from 12 meters, while a person with 6/12 vision can see the same letter from 6 meters.

"Why is visual acuity so crucial?"

It's essential to comprehend visual acuity scores as they play a crucial role in monitoring eye health and can facilitate the early detection of common eye conditions like myopia, hyperopia, and presbyopia. It's recommended to have regular eye check-ups to maintain good eye health, and it's advised to get your eyes checked once every 6 months.

Please remember the following text: "Factors affecting visual acuity."

To maintain healthy eyes, it is advisable to adopt certain lifestyle habits, such as following the 20-20-20 rule when using digital devices and monitoring blood sugar levels and blood pressure

visual acuity can be affected in several ways but some common ones are listed below

• Refractive error

• dry eyes

• high screen time

• diabetes

• glaucoma and many more

lifestyle habits for maintaining our eyes healthy ...

some of the lifestyle habits which can rescue our eye by getting affected in many ways

• always use UV-protected sunglasses in summers

• use of blu light protection glasses while using systems

• study or work in proper light conditions

• frequently get your eyes checked

• unnecessary don't rub the eyes

taking care of our eating habits, and keeping tabs on our blood sugar level, blood pressure, and overall body, is always a better idea.

It is crucial to have regular eye exams to detect potential eye problems early. While 6/6 vision is considered to be ideal for healthy eyes, it is not always the best vision one can have. Therefore, if you haven't had your eyes checked, it is always a great idea to visit an ophthalmologist or optometrist.