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Free PD education for online glasses shoppers

Buying glasses online? Understand your PD before you order.

Close-up of a pair of eyes with a marked line running from the center of one pupil to the center of the other, labeled pupillary distance
PD is the distance between the centers of your pupils.

Educational illustration · Not a measurement

Make sense of the labels on your PD report before you fill in an online glasses order.

Already have PD numbers? Understand them

Education guides · Interactive tools in private review

Free education. No purchase required. You choose where to shop.

eyePD does not sell glasses through this website. eyePD shares ownership with an optometry practice that sells glasses. Ownership & editorial policy

Learning Hub

Make sense of your PD report.

Start with the label you see, then follow the guide that matches your report or order form.

Why does PD matter?

Your prescription tells you the lens power. Your PD helps place that power left to right in front of your eyes. Poor alignment can lead to blurry vision, eye strain or headaches.

PD is one part of fitting glasses. Some lenses need other measurements too.

Why PD matters (in review)Why isn’t my PD on my prescription? (in review)

Can I measure my own PD?

Lens strength and eye alignment can change how much precision you need.

Educational draft · Clinical review pending

See when professional measurement is best (in review)

Featured · Practical guide

Why isn't my PD on my prescription?

No PD on your prescription? Ask if it was measured and is in your record. Find out if you need a new measurement.

Draft · Clinical and legal review pending

(in review)

PD basics

What is PD, and why does an online glasses order ask for it?

Draft · Clinical review pending

(in review)

Reading a report

Single vs dual PD: one number or two?

Clinically reviewed

Reading a report

Near vs distance PD: what do the labels mean?

Clinically reviewed

Ordering online

When an online glasses order asks for PD

Draft · Clinical review pending

(in review)

Measuring PD

Can I measure my own PD?

Educational draft · Clinical review pending

(in review)

Measuring PD

How to measure your PD

Follow the five-step mirror or helper method with a millimeter ruler. Learn the limits of each method and which labels to keep with the result.

Educational draft · Clinical review pending

Read guide (in review)
Hands holding an example report labeled Distance PD, Right: 31 mm, Left: 32 mm.
EXAMPLE ONLY. Distance PD. Right: 31 mm. Left: 32 mm.Made-up example. Do not use these numbers to order glasses.

AI-generated examples. New instructional images: clinical review pending.

Reading your PD report

Have a report in front of you?

The printable reference explains the labels on a PD report you already have.

Prescription and PD entry are in private review.

Understand My PD Numbers Order-form guide in review (in review)

My Eye Records: in development

Keep the numbers. Keep the context.

Personal accounts for prescriptions and PD records are planned.

The sample below is fictional. Accounts, uploads and the interactive demo are in private review.

Fictional sample · Nothing is uploaded or saved

Hands putting a complete example report into a protective sleeve in a blue folder.
Keep the report you were given. Keep its labels too.
My Eye Records is in development (in review)Privacy in plain language
Sample PD finder in private review (in review)

Spectacle prescription

Sample eye exam (fictional)

SAMPLE · NOT VALID FOR DISPENSING

Patient
Not listed (left blank for this sample)
Prescription date
June 2, 2024
Fictional sample prescription values for June 2, 2024
EyeSPHCYLAXISADD
OD (Right eye)−2.00−0.50175°Not listed
OS (Left eye)−1.75−0.5010°Not listed

PD: Distance R 31.5 mm / L 31.5 mm

Educational sample only. The values are made up and use minus-cylinder format (CYL written with a minus sign). Do not use them to order or dispense lenses.

Sample history

202220242026

Plain answers

Common questions

Do you sell glasses?

eyePD does not sell glasses on this site. It shares ownership with an eye care practice that sells glasses. The guides here are free. You do not need to buy anything. You choose where to shop.

Is camera measurement available?

No. eyePD does not measure PD. There is no camera, upload or scanning anywhere on this site.

Can I enter my own PD or prescription here?

This education version has guides and illustrations. Prescription and PD entry are in private review.

Is the provider finder a live directory?

The provider finder is in private review. The sample providers are fictional.

Does the record demo cost anything?

The guides are free. My Eye Records is in development. The prescription and chart shown on this page are fictional illustrations.

Free checklist

Clear vision starts with getting the details right.

The right PD helps your lenses line up with your eyes. The PD & Online Glasses Ordering Checklist is in development.

The printable PD labels reference is available in the meantime.

Open the printable PD labels reference

Email signup is in development.

eyePD will not sell email addresses or share them with advertisers. An email service we choose may use your address to send the email you asked for. Privacy