Prescriptions And How To Read Them
When you take an eye test your optician will ask you what type of conditions you want to improve your vision for , for example your work or hobby may involve the use of computers , or maybe your hobby is painting , where the distance you need to focus at is slightly further away than your normal reading distance , In this case your optician might prescribe a lens between your distance and your reading prescription . This is called a middle distance or intermediate prescription.
Usually your optician will first test your distance vision and when satisfied will decide on how much magnification to add to this to enable you to read clearly , this is the reading add as described pictorially above . The add is only extra magnification which is added to the Sph or spherical ( magnifying ) part of your prescription.
If you are still unsure of the true content of your prescription just send a scanned image of it to rxhelp@budgetspex.com , and I will endeavor to decipher or translate it.
| A Typical Distance prescription | ![]() |
To calculate your middle RX from a distance RX when the optician records your RX using an add. Examples Combine the middle add with the distance sphere, in this case R Sph +0.25 combined with +1.25 middle add = +1.50 the cylinder power and axis is unchanged. To calculate your near RX from a distance RX when the optician records your RX using an add. Combine the near add with the distance sphere , in this case R Sph +0.25 combined with +1.75 near add = +2.00 the cylinder power and axis is unchanged. |
Your Prescription
To order from Budgetspex, you will need to have a valid prescription . If you have a copy of a valid eye test, providing it is less than two years old and you are over the age of sixteen and not registered blind or partially blind, you may use it to make your order.
If you need to go to your local optician's store and have your eyes tested don't worry because following the eye test, your optician ( if you request ) is obliged to give you a copy of your prescription.
You don't need to feel pressured to buy spectacles from that particular outlet.
Order from Budgetspex and save ££££££'s
Your prescription in hand, your online order can commence.
At Budgetspex.com we have many different frame designs and lenses available including a good selection of genuine designer frames all at unbelievably low prices.
We now take Accor Spectacle Vouchers.
Online ordering
- Register your prescription with us by entering your E-mail address and selecting a password you can then enter your prescription details in the online form provided this will be kept in our database allowing you to order spectacles easily simply by logging on and choosing your frame and lens options.
- Choose your frame from our large selection of high quality stock,
- Select your lens options,
- Type in your personal details and continue on to our secure payment page .
- Our website accepts securely most types of credit cards. We use 128 bit security which is equal to that of High Street Banks.
Our standard lens is single vision 1.5 index Cr39 plastic resin and is adequate for most people. They are made exactly to your prescription and are suitable for general wear. Your NHS prescription should look like this :
| If you need help understanding your prescription follow this link | ![]() |
| It is important that you enter ALL details written on the prescription. | Above is a sample of a NHS prescription , All numbers including plus and minus signs must be entered . |
| There may also be a value for your ' PD ' or pupillary distance ( The measured distance between your pupils ). Anything written on your prescription, should be typed into our online order form. | |
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Here is a private prescription as supplied by a Shopping Centre Multiple.
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| The area RINGED IN RED is the information you will need to order spectacles. | |
Measuring your own pupil distance ( PD ) is relatively simple.
| With your eyes facing forward ask a friend to place a ruler that is marked in millimeters across the bridge of the nose as in our picture, then measure firstly from the inside edge of the right pupil to the outside edge of the left pupil. Take a note of this measurement then repeat this action but from the inside edge of the left pupil to the outside edge of the right pupil. | ![]() |
If the two measurements differ slightly don't worry this is probably due to eye or hand movement , just use the average of the two measurements. If the measurements differ greatly repeat the measuring process. |




