<p>I lost my prescription READing glass. I am trying to replace it with a cheap off the shelf reading glass. Here is my prescription read:</p>
<p>Single Vision for reading only
OD -3.75 DS
OS -3.25 -1.25X116</p>
<p>I lost my prescription READing glass. I am trying to replace it with a cheap off the shelf reading glass. Here is my prescription read:</p>
<p>Single Vision for reading only
OD -3.75 DS
OS -3.25 -1.25X116</p>
<p>Try Zenni Optical (zennioptical.com). The website explains it all so that you can order their very cheap, very nice glasses. I discovered them when the optometrist tried telling me I needed three different pair, full-frames only, special glass and none of his sold for under $300. My insurance wouldn’t have come close. I have bought several pair over the years with regular plastic lenses, wire frames and so on, without a complaint. They start at about $7 a pair. Really.</p>
<p>Really… Thanks ssmom… You made my day. Just ordered one pair to check it out. It is REALLY $7 a pair pluse $5 shipping whereas in Costco it will cost me around $150… that is COSTCO.</p>
<p>Different doctors write things in a different order, as I found out. But the pros who sell the glasses know how to figure things out. It can also matter for some of us if one writes degrees from 90 one way or the other (astigmatism)- had that experience years ago.</p>
<p>They might write in a different order, but each piece of the prescription means something specific, no matter what the order. Zenni does explain all of that, even how there are different ways to write something. I have astigmatism so I was confused at first too. </p>
<p>I wish my mom had lived to see this site-she’s the kind of person who would have ordered special Halloween, Easter and Christmas ones just because she could. My H doesn’t trust anyone but his own Dr. and refuses to even try online ordering. I tell him it’s his money if he wants to spend $300-not this kid.</p>
<p>Oh I’m in trouble…thanks for the tip sseamom…I have 5 pairs of glasses but only one pair that is red/blue/green…I’ve got 4 in the cart and going to call and get my script from the doc tomorrow! At my peak in my twenties before my script changed i had a dozen pairs, but they have gotten so expensive…Zenni will be my downfall I can see that (no pun intended).</p>
<p>LOL! I ordered some adorable “Sarah Palin” type progressives (ie bifocals) at ZenniOptical and I think they were MAYBE $25. Ordered some of the $7 ones for my son. They were very good to deal with and the shipping was fast.</p>
<p>I always thought that in addition the specifics of the prescription for each eye, you need to know the distance between your pupils to order properly fitted glasses–or is that measurement buried somewhere in the numbers OP listed?</p>
<p>Your right eye takes - 3.73 , your left -3.25.
Have you tried glasses at the drug store?
You may be able to find -3.75.</p>
<p>Yes, and there is also a bridge measurement. Zennio explains that too. You can also measure a pair of glasses that fit and get the numbers you need. I’ve found you can fudge a little on the bridge size, bow length and lens size and still feel comfortable. I really hate those thing rectangular glasses and I had to experiment some to find ones I like.</p>
<p>Over-the-counter reading glasses do not work for prescriptions (MRx) that are minus (-), would only work for MRx that are plus (+) and OTC readers tend to run from +1.25 to +3.50. </p>
<p>The degrees (116 in your MRx) are always calculated the same way, so the person who was told that probably had some other error that the optician or optometrist was trying to not disclose. </p>
<p>The cylinder (astigmatism, -1.25 in your MRx) that you have in your left eye (OS) can be calculated in both + or -, but again, this will be calculated correctly by professionals. </p>
<p>Yes you do need your interpupillary distance measured (so the optical center of the lens sits over the center of the pupil in the frame) , but the website might show you how to measure it at home.</p>
<p>Lastly, since you state that these are your reading glasses, I assume that you do own a pair of driving/distance glasses as well? Because without them, your vision may not pass the driver’s license renewal, depending on the driving visual acuity requirements of your state.</p>
<p>YoHO,</p>
<p>You are absolutely correct. Yes, I have a pair of driving glass. Yes, I learned a lesson the hard way and bought a pair of +3.5 off the shelf reading glass and found it won’t work. Thus the question here. I wish I have posted earlier.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the attention.</p>
<p>I’ve bought glasses for my son from this company - [Eyeglasses</a> Online | Discount Glasses Online | Brand Name Glasses Online from $38](<a href=“http://www.coastal.com/glasses]Eyeglasses”>http://www.coastal.com/glasses) First pair is free except for shipping, which is reasonably priced! They have a model view or you can upload a picture of yourself to try the glasses on. They also have a way to sort by frame size if you can read the teeny tiny numbers on a current pair of glasses frames. </p>
<p>I’ve been hesitant about buying a pair for myself because I wear progressive lenses, but may go for it.</p>
<p>I have a pair of progressive lenses as well, from Costco, it costs OVER $300, I am using it on everything other than reading. I found the reading area on the progressive lenses is too small for dedicated reading purpose. I have to constantly hold my head up to be focused.
A pair of single vision reading glass solved the problem.</p>
<p>IF you order online, the standard is to have you measure a pair of glasses that fit well. </p>
<p>I agree with you that having a pair of pure reading glasses for myopia is a plus. You can concentrate better without having to worry about how your head is tilted.</p>
<p>Yes, that prescription doesn’t make sense for reading glasses. You have a positive diopter for reading glasses (+1.00 to +2.50 for over the counter glasses, for instance). Negative diopter numbers are for myopia, or nearsightedness, when you can’t see far away. So for things like driving, or the usual I-see-blurry-without-my-glasses people. -3.75 is moderately nearsighted, or myopic. Those are not reading glasses-type numbers.</p>
<p>My glasses are from Costco as well (progressive lenses) but I often read without glasses. I don’t think my near sight correction is as much as my far sight one.</p>
<p>Most optometrists don’t put the PD (pupillary distance) measurement, or measurement between centers of pupils, on their written prescriptions because I think most of them operate optical stores selling glasses and they don’t give the measurement because they aren’t required to and they don’t want you to order online and not from them. When you have your eyes examined ask optometrist to measure your PD and write it on your prescription. Most optometrists don’t have a problem with you buying readers off the shelf though. If you aren’t getting bifocals/progressives that require keener fitting you probably would be ok buying glasses online, but I think folks are way smarter buying from regular optician in person who can fit you right and adjust them when you stop back at their store. If you order wrong fitting glasses with wrong lenses online, you will regret it.</p>
<p>Wal-Mart sporting goods/fishing depts are a good place to buy simple polycarb bifocal sunglasses off the shelf for about $20!</p>