LensesBy: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com Updated June 13, 2025 Reports should indicate what a student's uncorrected (without glasses) and corrected (with glasses) visual acuities are. If a student's vision can be corrected, even mildly, they will typically be prescribed glasses or contacts.
Why were the glasses prescribed?It is important to know why the glasses have been prescribed. Correcting a refractive error (such as myopia or hyperopia) is only one of the reasons that these may be prescribed. Glasses may be prescribed with a prism for a muscle imbalance or they may be recommended to protect the eyes. If the glasses are prescribed for near, they should be removed for distance viewing and vice versa if recommended by the doctor (some students will be able to leave them on as it will not have a significant impact). Glasses that are prescribed for myopia, or nearsightedness, will have a minus lens. Glasses prescribed for hyperopia will have a plus lens.
Types of LensesThe type of lenses that are prescribed can tell you a lot about the student's eye condition. The stronger the lens, the more significant the uncorrected vision. Keep in mind that even if a student is prescribed glasses, it doesn't necessarily mean that the student's vision can be fully corrected. This is because glasses cannot correct all types of visual impairments.
Convex (Plus) Lenses
Other Prescription Terms
Sample Eyeglasses Prescription
All About VisionGary Heiting, OD has written a great article for All About Vision entitled "How to Read Your Eyeglass Prescription." This information can be very helpful when interpreting the eye report!
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