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How to measure your Pupillary Distance (PD)
Posted on Thu, Dec 09, 21
Your Pupillary Distance is the distance measured between the pupils of your eyes and is used to ensure your lenses give you the best vision possible. If shopping In-Store in Melbourne, one of our qualified Optical Dispensers will be able to take this measurement for you, however read along if shopping online.

If you are unable to retrieve your pupillary distance from the script issuer, follow along for 3 useful tips for measuring your PD at home.

Sometimes when your doctor or optometrist issues a prescription they leave off the Pupillary Distance, or PD from the script. It is traditionally the role of the Optical Dispenser to take this measurement for you when shopping in-store, which is available for you at Shade Files South Yarra. However if ordering online not everyone has access to a service like this.



 


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1. ASK A FRIEND FOR HELP.



1. Ask your friend to place a millimetre ruler across your brow.

2. Align the ruler's zero to the centre of your right pupil.

3. Whilst holding the ruler straight and flat, have your friend record the distance from the centre of your left pupil.

4. This distance is your PD.

5. Repeat this 2 - 3 times to ensure that you have an accurate measurement and take the average of these numbers.


Measure your PD In-Store (Melbourne Only) →


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2. Use a Ruler.


1. Stand or sit about 20 cm (approx. 8 inches) away from a mirror.

2. Hold a millimetre ruler above your eyes and flat against your brow. Close your right eye and align the ruler's zero to the centre of your left pupil.

3. With the ruler in place, open your left eye and close your right eye. The distance measured to the centre of your right pupil is your PD.

4. Repeat steps 2-3 times and take an average of this number to ensure you have an accurate measurement


Shop now for $145 →



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3. Different ways a prescription can be written.


1. Stand or sit about 20 cm (approx. 8 inches) away from a mirror.

2. Hold a millimetre ruler above your eyes and flat against your brow. Close your right eye and align the ruler's zero to the centre of your left pupil.

3. With the ruler in place, open your left eye and close your right eye. The distance measured to the centre of your right pupil is your PD.

4. Repeat steps 2-3 times and take an average of this number to ensure you have an accurate measurement


Shop now for $145 →

4. Typical Abbreviations used on prescriptions.


OD - Right eye

OS - Left Eye

Balance - No values are required. This instructs the person making your glasses to use a lens of similar weight to balance out the frame.

Plano, Infinity, 0.00,
 - Basically 0.00 or no correction is required for that part of the prescription.

Add, Near Add, Reading Addition - These all relate to your reading addition and can be written anywhere on the prescription.

Inter, Inter Add, Int Add, Int, Intermediate Addition 
- These all relate to your intermediate addition and are used to make glasses for intermediate distance use. They can also be written anywhere on the prescription.

VA, Visual Acuities - These values describe your vision (visual acuity) but are not needed to make your glasses.

BVD - Back Vertex Distance is the distance required from the front of your eye (cornea) to the back surface of the corrective lens. If you have been provided with a BVD value ensure to enter it in to the additional information or comments box provided with any online prescription forms.

5. How to enter your prescription online.


Most reputable online suppliers like Shade Files will offer an easy-to-use prescription input form like the here.

Our online prescription form allows you to take the information from your script and input using simple drop-down selectors.


If you are still unsure about entering your prescription details when ordering glasses online, make sure that you choose a supplier that offers an "Upload" or "Send Later" option. Shade Files provides both of these options at the start.



 

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How to measure your Pupillary Distance (PD)

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Your Pupillary Distance is the distance measured between the pupils of your eyes and is used to ensure your lenses give you the best vision possible. If shopping In-Store in Melbourne, one of our qualified Optical Dispensers will be able to take this measurement for you, however read along if shopping online.

View Document

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