How to measure your Pupillary Distance (PD) | ClearlyContacts.ca

[clearlycontacts]

The PD usually stays the same, but sometimes it can change with age. Your best bet is to remeasure each time just to be 100% certain. -JV

[prairiepatch]

I have a question. Does the PD change, or is it a number that always stays the same?

[Coastal]

If you are ordering distance glasses, use the larger number (73). If you are ordering glasses for reading up close, use the smaller number (70). If you are ordering bifocals or progressives, always use the higher number. Thanks! -JV

[eeejayt]

on my prescription my pd says 73/70

help! what does this mean?

[NilimeshChavan]

How far do you have to see? For example, if you see close objects your pupils gets closer, but for distant object they get further away. I realized this while measuring my daughters PD. Please let me know.

[CrankCase08]

@NilimeshChavan They always avoid giving you the pupillary distance, because it's something they don't have to give. It's considered a 'dispensing measurement', ie. for them to dispense your glasses themselves. What a racket.

[irishsoccer8]

@NilimeshChavan Merely standing in front of a mirror will not simulate distance vision for your daughter. Depending on her Rx, if you happen to be off by 2-3 mm, you could be giving her eye strain, and even double vision. This is because a decentered lens creates prism, which can affect how her eyes can work together (binocular fusion). Many people do go online for glasses, but it is at their own risk.

[222gordon]

The way I did it was, hold a ruler up to my eyes just below the pupils, then had a friend take a close up photograph. I then found it much easier looking at the enlarged photograph on the computer. It was much easier to judge the distance and count the mm's. I think this is a more accurate way of measuring PD. Hope this advice helps.

[SaritaLovee]

my stupid doctor wouldn't give me my PD either. UGH!

[KnifeHex]

@SaritaLovee They never do. I have at least 5 prescriptions (old ones) and none of them have the PD. It's a common practice to screw people up. That way you are forced to get your eye glasses from their store. Why? Because they make huge profit margins when compared to the ones online. And they did so for decades, so of course they try hard to make sure they do not lose that margin.

[messagerdeliris]

If my eyes doctor wrote : 29.5 / 30.5 . Which eye is the 29.5 ??

Thanks

[sohardtohold]

@messagerdeliris If he gave you two PD measurements, what he was measuring was the distance from your pupil to the center of the bridge of your nose. All you have to do is add the two measurements together to get your PD. Yours would be 60mm.

[clearlycontacts]

@messagerdeliris The first one is usually your right eye but you may want to double check your optometrist. If you're ordering off our website, simply add the two measurements together :)

MJ

[TheEmDenis]

@josephmax1

You are absolutely right! But why the eye doctor didn't give the PD data in the prescription as other eyes info? because eye doctor doesn't want the patient to order their glasses out of his clinic.

[siegegoggles]

@TheEmDenis You people are fucking dumb. They won't give you your PD number because they simply want you to pay for it! Not because they want you to buy glasses from them, you morons.

The last time I checked my local optometrist, they had a chart that said PD measurement costs $15. Measuring your PD is like a service; if you want it, then pay for it!

How does preventing you from knowing what your PD is going to force you to buy glasses from them, you morons?

[mouseling]

@siegegoggles last year when I had my eye exam and got glasses from my optometrist, I asked if they could write down my prescription for me so I could order a cheap back up pair online because, as i explained to them, i have a tendency to lose my glasses and I had recently been pulled over and given a court date for driving without corrective lenses. They hesitantly wrote my prescription down but said they wouldn't write my PD down because they didn't think I should buy glasses elsewhere.

[mouseling]

@siegegoggles what I'm saying is, not writing down my PD didn't prevent me from buying glasses elsewhere, they eventually just told it to me (but still refused to write it on my prescription form), but I suppose their logic is that they can try to make it difficult for me to buy glasses elsewhere (can't order glasses online without my PD!) so that i get discouraged and buy only from them. They must not realize or care that I don't have $400 to drop on designer glasses whenever I want.

[irishsoccer8]

@siegegoggles First, PD is needed to accurately make lenses that will make your vision comfortable. Second, optometrists take two PD measurements, for near and far vision. Depending on your hobbies/occupation, both are relevant; however, usually the distance measurement is used.

If you do choose to order glasses online, it is at your own risk. If you are off by 2 or 3 millimeters (or even less for stronger Rx's) then you'll be placing artificial prism in your lenses, resulting in headaches.

[irishsoccer8]

@siegegoggles Also, looking into a mirror will not simulate distance vision. Say you are a foot-and-a-half from the mirror. Your eyes will focus on your image that is optically 3 feet (~a meter) away from your eyes. This will result in your eyes not being not completely set for distance vision. If you are near-sighted, this could cause anything past 20 feet or so to be blurry, not to mention eye strain from the added effects of the artificial prism from incorrect decentration.

[davitodude]

What is this measurement used for? 

[jadi929]

@davitodude usually used when crafting a lens

[doomdart]

what about reading glasses?

[CoastalContacts]

@doomdart

The reading PD will be 3mm less than the distance PD.

JB