What Does OD Mean in a Glasses Prescription? OD, OS and OU Explained

Last updated: 6 October 2026. Frame prices and availability were checked on the same day. Written by the Lens & Co by Tiara team, an eyewear brand in Ogba, Lagos with nearly 10 years in business. This guide is general information, not medical advice.

• OD, OS and OU
• SPH, CYL, AXIS, ADD, PD
• Worked example
• RE and LE
• How long it lasts
• Upload yours
• Frames to shop
• Lens options
• FAQ

What do OD, OS and OU mean on a glasses prescription?

These three abbreviations tell the lens maker which eye each line of numbers belongs to. They come from Latin, which is why they look strange. Here is the short version.

A simple way to remember it: D is for dexter, which means right, and S is for sinister, which means left. Prescriptions usually list OD first and OS second. Also note that OD is the wearer’s right eye, so when you face someone, their right eye is on your left. According to the Cleveland Clinic, OU is rarely used because most prescriptions are different for each eye.

How do you read the rest of your prescription?

Next to OD and OS you will see columns of numbers. Each one controls a different part of your lens. The Cleveland Clinic explains the same terms, and our guide to how to read your glasses prescription covers them in more depth.

A prescription includes more than OD and OS labels. It also lists the measurements needed to make your lenses, and PD is essential for placing the optical centre correctly.

You may also see DS (dioptre sphere) in the CYL column on some prescriptions, which means there is no astigmatism correction. Also, a power of 0.00 is sometimes written as plano, meaning no power.

A worked example: read a prescription line by line

Here is an example prescription. The numbers are made up, so use your own.

Read aloud, it says this. Right eye (OD): short-sighted by 2.00 dioptres, with a little astigmatism of 0.75 dioptres at axis 180. Left eye (OS): short-sighted by 1.75 dioptres, with astigmatism of 0.50 at axis 170. There is no ADD, and the PD (for example 63 mm) is usually written separately. The two eyes are close but not equal, which is completely normal, because each eye can have different correction needs.

What if your prescription says RE and LE instead of OD and OS?

Nothing changes. RE (or R) means right eye and LE (or L) means left eye, exactly like OD and OS. Many clinics and printed forms use plain English, so you may never see the Latin letters. The only thing that matters is that both eyes are on the page and every number is readable. If any part is unclear, message us on WhatsApp before you order.

How long is a glasses prescription valid, and where do you get one in Nigeria?

The Cleveland Clinic says glasses prescriptions typically expire after about two years, and that most optometrists suggest an exam every two years, or every year for older adults and people with conditions such as diabetes. Rules differ by country, so ask your optometrist how long yours is valid. For a general guide to how often adults should have eye health checks, which support overall vision health, see the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

To get a prescription, you need an eye test from a qualified optometrist or eye doctor, as these tests and prescriptions fall under optometry. In Nigeria, the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN) regulates optometrists and dispensing opticians, and its website offers a way to look up a practitioner. Lens & Co by Tiara is an eyewear brand, not an eye clinic, so we cannot test your eyes. If you are not sure whether you need glasses at all, start with do I need glasses? And see a doctor or eye specialist straight away if you have sudden loss of vision, eye pain, a sudden shower of floaters or flashes of light.

How do you upload your prescription to Lens & Co?

You do not need to visit a shop. Here is how it works, from your prescription to your door.

1. Check your prescription. Make sure both the OD and OS lines are on the page and every number is readable, so the order is made correctly. Include the PD and ADD if your optometrist wrote them.
2. Choose a frame. Pick one marked as suitable for prescription lenses on its product page. See the picks below, or shop all glasses. You can try frames on your face and use the face shape tool first.
3. Choose your lens. Clear, anti blue light, photochromic or photochromic blue cut (see lens options below).
4. Upload your prescription. Use our upload your prescription page to send a photo or PDF. Alternatively, tap Add prescription on a product page, or send it on WhatsApp.
5. We confirm. We tell you the lenses, the price and the delivery date on WhatsApp before you pay.
6. Pay securely. You pay online by card through Paystack.
7. We deliver. Your glasses are made through our partner opticians and delivered to your door. Delivery is usually 24 to 48 hours in Lagos, and 3 to 7 working days after production to other states.

Tips for a good photo: lay the prescription flat in good light, avoid glare and shadows, and keep the whole slip in the frame. We handle prescriptions under our privacy policy.

Which frames work well with prescription lenses?

Most of our frames can take prescription lenses, and the product page tells you if a frame cannot. Below are eight real frames whose product pages say they are suitable for prescription lenses. Each card shows the price for every lens option, and you can open a frame to see every colour and the measurements. These are the lens prices as listed. With a prescription, the final lens price depends on your numbers and the lens type, so we confirm it on WhatsApp before you pay.

Good for: a low starting price in a big frame

STORMI

From ₦10,000

Lens width 54 mm · bridge 19 mm · temple 146 mm · Marked suitable for prescription lenses

Lens options: Clear lens ₦10,000 · Anti blue light ₦19,000 · Photochromic ₦20,000 · Photochromic blue cut ₦24,500

Suits heart, oblong and round faces · Colours: Matte Black, Matte Black Print Handle, Leopard Print, Matte Brown and more

Shop nowTry it on

Good for: a medium-width frame with a clear-lens option

CHAPEL

From ₦15,000

Lens width 54 mm · bridge 19 mm · temple 147 mm · Marked suitable for prescription lenses

Lens options: Clear lens ₦15,000 · Anti blue light ₦24,000 · Photochromic ₦25,000 · Photochromic blue cut ₦29,500

Suits heart, oblong, oval, round and square faces · Colours: Black, Grey, White

Shop nowTry it on

Good for: a big square frame from ₦16,000

OZIL

From ₦16,000

Marked suitable for prescription lenses

Lens options: Anti blue light ₦16,000 · Photochromic ₦25,000 · Photochromic blue cut ₦30,500

Suits heart, oblong, oval and square faces · Colours: Black Green, Black Grey, Leopard Print

Shop nowTry it on

Good for: a light titanium frame

TESSY

From ₦17,000

Lens width 45 mm · bridge 17 mm · temple 145 mm · Marked suitable for prescription lenses

Lens options: Anti blue light ₦17,000 · Photochromic ₦26,000 · Photochromic blue cut ₦31,500

Suits heart, oblong, oval, round and square faces · Colours: Matte Black, Matte Brown, Matte Green, Matte Grey

Shop nowTry it on

Good for: a round metal frame

ANCHOR

From ₦15,000

Lens width 46 mm · bridge 21 mm · temple 146 mm · Marked suitable for prescription lenses

Lens options: Anti blue light ₦15,000 · Photochromic ₦24,000 · Photochromic blue cut ₦29,500

Suits heart, oblong and square faces · Colours: Brown, Leopard Print, Black Silver

Shop nowTry it on

Good for: a lightweight metal frame that suits five face shapes

JARVIS

From ₦13,000

Lens width 49 mm · bridge 20 mm · temple 145 mm · Marked suitable for prescription lenses

Lens options: Anti blue light ₦13,000 · Photochromic ₦22,000 · Photochromic blue cut ₦27,500

Suits heart, oblong, oval, round and square faces · Colours: Brown, Black, Silver

Shop nowTry it on

Good for: a metal frame that starts from ₦10,000

ISSY

From ₦10,000

Lens width 53 mm · bridge 17 mm · temple 145 mm · Marked suitable for prescription lenses

Lens options: Anti blue light ₦10,000 · Photochromic ₦19,000 · Photochromic blue cut ₦24,500

Suits heart, oblong, oval, round and square faces · Colours: Black, Purple, Red Gold

Shop nowTry it on

Good for: a round titanium frame with a clear-lens option

JANI

From ₦20,000

Lens width 48 mm · bridge 20 mm · temple 138 mm · Marked suitable for prescription lenses

Lens options: Clear lens ₦20,000 · Anti blue light ₦29,000 · Photochromic ₦30,000 · Photochromic blue cut ₦34,500

Suits heart, oblong and square faces · Colours: Gold, Leopard Print

Shop nowTry it on

Not sure which suits you? Read which glasses should I buy?, or browse every frame. If you are unsure whether a frame suits your prescription, ask us on WhatsApp before you order.

Which lens should you choose for your prescription?

Not sure between them? Our guide on photochromic vs blue cut lenses explains the difference, and the photochromic price guide shows what each adds. For more on what comes with an order, read what you get when you order from Lens & Co.

What mistakes should you avoid?

• Mixing up OD and OS. OD is right and OS is left. Do not swap the lines when you type your numbers.
• Sending a blurry or cropped photo. If we cannot read every number, we have to ask you again.
• Guessing from your old glasses. Always use a current prescription from an optometrist.
• Forgetting the PD or ADD. Ask your optometrist to write them down if they are missing, since both are needed for correctly fitted glasses.
• Expecting blue light glasses to fix blurry vision. They do not correct vision. If your vision is blurry, get an eye test, then add your prescription.
• Ordering a frame that is not marked as suitable for prescription. Check the product page.

Frequently asked questions: what does OD mean in a glasses prescription?

What does OD mean in a glasses prescription?

OD means your right eye. It comes from the Latin oculus dexter. On a prescription, the OD line holds the lens numbers for your right eye. If you have a prescription, upload your prescription and we will confirm your lenses before you pay.

What does OS mean in a glasses prescription?

OS means your left eye, from the Latin oculus sinister. The OS line holds the lens numbers for your left eye. The numbers are often different from the OD line, which is normal.

What does OU mean on a prescription?

OU means both eyes, from the Latin oculus uterque. You only see it when both eyes need exactly the same numbers. Cleveland Clinic notes that it is rarely used because most prescriptions differ between the eyes.

Is OD the right eye or the left eye?

OD is the right eye and OS is the left eye. A simple memory trick: D is for dexter, which means right, and S is for sinister, which means left. When you face someone, their right eye is on your left.

What do SPH, CYL and AXIS mean?

SPH (sphere) is the main lens power. A minus sign means short-sightedness (trouble seeing far) and a plus sign means long-sightedness (trouble seeing close). CYL (cylinder) corrects astigmatism and is blank if you do not have it. AXIS is a number between 0 and 180 that shows the direction of that astigmatism correction.

What does ADD mean on a glasses prescription?

ADD is extra power for the near part of bifocal or progressive lenses, or for reading. It is added to the SPH number to give your reading strength. If your prescription has no ADD, you probably do not need a separate reading power.

What is PD on a glasses prescription?

PD is pupillary distance: the distance in millimetres between the centres of your pupils. It tells the lens maker where to place the centre of each lens. If your prescription does not show it, ask your optometrist to write it down, or message us on WhatsApp and we will guide you.

Why are my OD and OS numbers different?

Most people’s eyes are not identical, so each eye gets its own numbers. That is the reason a prescription has separate OD and OS lines. Different numbers do not mean something is wrong.

What if my prescription says RE and LE, or R and L?

They mean the same thing. RE and R mean right eye, which is OD. LE and L mean left eye, which is OS. Some clinics and printed forms use these instead of the Latin abbreviations. Just make sure both lines are clearly readable when you send it to us.

Can I order prescription glasses online in Nigeria?

Yes. Choose a frame, choose your lens, upload your prescription on the prescription page, and we confirm your lenses, price and delivery date on WhatsApp before you pay. We are an eyewear brand, not an eye clinic, so you need an eye test from a qualified optometrist first.

How much do prescription glasses cost at Lens & Co?

Frames start from ₦10,000. The lens price depends on your prescription and the lens type you choose, so we confirm the full price on WhatsApp before you pay. Our photochromic glasses price guide shows what each lens type adds.

How long is a glasses prescription valid?

It depends on your optometrist and your country. Cleveland Clinic says glasses prescriptions typically expire after about two years, and that most optometrists suggest an eye exam every two years, or every year if you are older or have a condition such as diabetes. Ask your optometrist how long yours is valid.

Can Lens & Co test my eyes or give me a prescription?

No. We are an eyewear brand, not an optician or eye clinic. Visit a qualified optometrist for an eye test, then bring your prescription to us. If you are not sure whether you need glasses, read do I need glasses?

Do you deliver prescription glasses outside Lagos?

Yes, to all 36 states and the FCT. Delivery in Lagos is usually 24 to 48 hours, and outside Lagos it takes 3 to 7 working days after your glasses are produced. We confirm the delivery date before you pay. Read the delivery policy.