Make sure you can read the numbers before leaving the opticians following your examination. Below is an example of prescription types.

 Your prescription contains information to ensure you obtain the best possible vision from your spectacles. Don't worry if your prescription doesn't contain all of the following values, all prescriptions are unique.  Not everyone may have astigmatism or need prism, and theese fields may be blank.

The Sphere specifies the power or strength of lens required to correct your focus

The Cylinder and Axis, if required, correct astigmatism is where the eye is shaped like a rugby ball, not like a football. This just means the eye may have difficulty focusing at any distance.

The Add, short for Reading Addition, is the additional correction required for reading, this could be used to make either reading glasses or bifocal or glasses.

A prism, if required, is to try and help your eyes work properly as a pair or to correct a binocular problem and is prescribed to prevent eyestrain.