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  • Can you explain my refractive exam readings?


    Question:

    I just visited my eye doctor yesterday and I was told I was -.50 in my right eye and -1.00 in my left. Can you please tell me what these eye measurement numbers mean?


    Answer:

    The doctor was describing myopic or nearsighted refractive errors in shorthand. Properly stated they would have been -0.50 D and -1.00 D. The lens powers are written in units called diopters, which represent the optical power of the lenses needed to correct your nearsightedness. These values represent very mild correction.



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