What does OD-ADD and OS-ADD mean? (eye prescription)?

I'm trying to buy glasses online. because it's waayy cheaper. I can just enter my prescription and they make it and send it to me. They ask for OD-SPH; OD-CYL; OD-AXIS; OD-ADD(right)/OS-ADD(left). my optometrist gave me the first 3 but i dont know what OD-ADD and OS-ADD is.

OD ADD is the bifocal power for the right eye. OS ADD is the bifocal power for the left eye.

*OD stands for Oculus Dexter - Latin for "right eye"
*OS stands for Oculum Sinister - Latin for 'left eye"

Did your optometrist also take a PD measurement? That is the measurement between your pupils. This ensures that the prescription is set in correct spot in your glasses. Also, if you want bifocals, you will need to have that height measured in the particular frame you choose.

It may be best to check around at different retail optical places. Many run BOGO sales at different times of the year. Some run 40% or 50% off a complete pair too. Also, some health insurance plans offer vision coverage. They may offer a straight discount or submit a claim on your behalf depending on your plan.

Good luck and hope this helps!

OD-ADDand OS ADD have to do with bifocals. If you don't need bifocals, you don't need this part of the the prescription.

Yup. It is cheaper. If you went to an optician and paid them the money to do this for you because they have an EDUCATION that you do not have, you would have this done RIGHT. I know how. I am a certified optician. I PAID good money for my education. Do you think I am going to BITE my own hand and GIVE You the information for FREE? What do you do for a living so that you can do it for free for me? You will probaally come and try to get me to adjust your glasses when you get them becuae they hurt or slide or something. TOTAL STUPIDITY! I appologize, but do you cut your own hair and do your own heart surgery too? You go for it and have GREAT CHEAP glasses that don't get ordered right and do not fit well. I hope you like them! GOOD LUCK!

doolphin got it right; the add is like the power of the drugstore reading glasses you'd need if you didn't need a prescription for distance. If you suffer from eyestrain from reading or doing other close work for extended periods, you could try an add of between 1 and 2, order bifocals or prescription reading glasses and see if it helps.

The other number you need is the pupillary distance; if you didn't get that with the doc's prescription, you can measure that quite well using a bathroom mirror and a millimeter ruler. Measure from one side of each pupil; that's more accurate than trying to go from center to center. The number I got that way was right in the middle of the range of PDs that various optical professionals measured.

You know there's a lot of other professionals that are happy to share their knowledge for free. But, what do I know, I cut my own hair after all.