Trying to read a prescription can be confusing to the layperson. The average script will have a sphere (SPH) that indicates the strength needed in your lens to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness, and a cylinder (CYL) which will indicate the lens power needed to correct astigmatism. The prescription will also include Pupillary Distance (PD), which measures the horizontal distance between your pupils, and the axis, which will indicate where to place the lens correction for astigmatism. Read more