what does sph and cyl mean for glasses
In brief: Specific parts of Rx. To expand on dr. Proffitt's answer, sph = sphere; if this is a negative number, the prescription is a myopic or nearsighted prescription and a positive number dictates a farsighted or hyperopic prescription. Cyl = cylinder or the amount or power of the astigmatism correction. Axis is the direction in which the astigmatism correction is placed in the glasses.