THE CLEAR VISION GUIDE

Pupillary distance (PD) explained

A distance in millimetres used to help position lenses relative to the pupils.

Reading a prescription

How to understand it

The record may use a total or separate right and left values. Ask whether it is for distance or near viewing.

An example

A total of 63 mm can be 31 + 32 mm; dividing by two would lose the asymmetry in this teaching example.

A common mix-up

PD is not lens power, and a total value does not automatically replace monocular measurements.

See the idea in a full guide →

Sources & verification

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