Where Is My Pupillary Distance On My Prescription? | PD

If you’re ordering glasses online, pupillary distance (PD) can feel like the one number you can’t find. You’re not alone. Many prescriptions show power, astigmatism, and add values clearly, then leave PD off or tuck it in a corner.

This guide shows you where PD tends to appear, what each format means, and what to do when it’s not there, so you can place an order without guessing.

Where Is My Pupillary Distance On My Prescription?

PD is the millimeter distance between the centers of your pupils. Labs use it to center the optical part of each lens so you’re looking through the right spot.

On paperwork, PD can show up on the prescription itself, on a separate dispensing slip, or inside a portal download that looks different from the handout you got at the exam.

Where PD Shows Up	What It Looks Like	What It Means
Near the top or bottom margin	PD 63	Single binocular PD in mm
Next to “Dist” or “Distance”	Dist PD 64	Distance PD used for most everyday glasses
Next to “Near”	Near PD 60	Near PD used for readers or close work lenses
In a “Measurements” box	PD: 31/32	Two monocular PD values (right/left)
On a separate “Dispensing” page	Monocular PD 32 / 31	Each eye to the bridge of the nose
On an online order receipt from the optical shop	PD (mm) 62	PD captured when frames were chosen
Inside a digital record download	IPD 63	Same idea as PD; wording varies by clinic
In a contact lens record	(often blank)	Contacts don’t need PD for lens centering

Fast places to scan first

Start with the corners and margins. Many templates squeeze PD into a small field near the patient info block.

Next, look for a section named “Measurements,” “Frame,” or “Dispensing.” If your printout is only one page and looks exam-only, PD may be on a second page that the optical shop uses.

Single PD vs dual PD

A single PD is one number, like 63. That’s the total pupil-to-pupil distance.

A dual PD, also called monocular PD, is two numbers, like 32/31. Each number is the distance from the center of one pupil to the center of your nose bridge. Many shops list the right eye first (OD) and left eye second (OS).

Distance PD vs near PD

Distance PD is used for most prescription glasses: everyday wear, driving, and most single-vision lenses. Near PD is smaller because your eyes turn inward when you read.

If you see both, use the one that matches what you’re buying. If your order form asks only for “PD,” most online shops mean distance PD unless they clearly say “near.”

What to enter when the order form wants one number

If you have dual PD values but the retailer wants a single PD, add the two numbers together. A 32/31 monocular PD becomes 63 as a single PD.

If the retailer wants dual PD and you only have a single PD, you can split it in half, then fine-tune by 1 mm to match your face symmetry. A single PD of 63 often lands near 31/32. If you’re guessing, pause and measure instead of submitting a split you don’t trust.

PD notes for kids and teens

Children’s PD changes as they grow, so an old value can drift. If you’re ordering for a child, measure again close to the purchase date and recheck after the frame is chosen, since the bridge fit can shift where the lenses sit.

Why PD might not be printed on your exam prescription

Many clinics treat PD as a fitting measurement taken during dispensing, not as part of the medical refraction result. That’s one reason PD can be missing even when you had a full exam.

The College of Optometrists of Ontario notes that PD is not always measured at the exam stage and may not appear on a prescription printout. PD measurement FAQ.

Another wrinkle: some regions set different rules on what a “prescription” must include, and practices often follow the minimum required fields. The result is a lot of variation in paperwork style.

Finding pupillary distance on your prescription with a quick checklist

Use this quick pass before you assume PD is missing. It takes two minutes and saves a lot of back-and-forth.

1. Check every page. Digital portals often split “Prescription” and “Measurements.” Download both.
2. Search the PDF. Use find for “PD,” “IPD,” “Dist PD,” and “Near PD.”
3. Look near ADD and prism fields. Some templates group PD with multifocal data.
4. Look for slashes. A pair like 33/31 is often monocular PD, even if “PD” isn’t printed beside it.
5. Confirm units. PD is in millimeters. If you see inches, it’s not PD.

While you’re scanning, it helps to know what the rest of the line items mean. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has a clear breakdown of common prescription abbreviations. How to read an eyeglasses prescription.

Measuring PD at home when it’s missing

If the paperwork doesn’t show PD and the office can’t give it quickly, you can measure it yourself. Home measurements can work well for many single-vision orders, as long as you take your time and repeat the steps.

Ruler method with a friend

This is the most consistent low-tech route.

1. Sit straight with your head level. Keep your eyes on a distant point across the room.
2. Have your friend hold a millimeter ruler across the bridge of your nose.
3. Ask them to line up “0” with the center of your right pupil, then read the mm mark at the center of your left pupil.
4. Repeat three times. If you get 62, 63, and 62, use 62.5 and round to the nearest whole number your retailer accepts.

Mirror method when you’re solo

Stand about 20 cm from a mirror. Hold a millimeter ruler against your brow line, keep it flat, and close one eye at a time to mark the pupil centers against the ruler. Repeat several rounds and keep the most consistent value.

This method is more sensitive to tilt and parallax. If you get a wide spread of numbers, switch to the friend method.

Phone camera tools

Many eyewear retailers offer a phone-based PD tool that uses the camera plus a reference card. These can be handy, yet results depend on lighting, face angle, and how well the reference card matches the expected size.

If you use a phone tool, do a second method as a cross-check. If the numbers disagree by more than 2 mm, redo the measurement.

When to ask for a recheck

A small PD error might not feel dramatic with a mild prescription, but stronger prescriptions and multifocal designs are less forgiving. If any of these apply, ask the optical shop to measure PD with a pupillometer or confirm your numbers while you’re wearing the frame.

• You’re ordering progressive lenses or bifocals.
• Your prescription has high sphere power or high cylinder power.
• You get headaches or blur with new glasses even after a few days of wear.
• You’re choosing a frame with a wide bridge or a very narrow bridge.
• Your monocular PD values differ a lot from each other.

PD numbers that commonly make sense

Most adult distance PD values fall in a range that starts in the high 50s and runs into the high 60s in millimeters. Many kids measure smaller.

Don’t treat the range as a rule. Use it as a gut check. If your measurement says 48 or 82, redo it before you submit an order.

Comparison of PD options for online orders

Not every method fits every situation. This table helps you pick a route that matches your lens type and how much certainty you need.

Method	Best For	Watch Outs
Optical shop measurement	Progressives, strong prescriptions, tricky frames	May require an in-person visit with the frame
Friend + ruler	Most single-vision orders	Needs steady head and a ruler with mm marks
Mirror + ruler	Backup check when solo	Parallax can skew results
Retailer phone tool	Fast estimate and second check	Card size, lighting, and camera angle matter
Old glasses receipt	Replacing the same setup	PD can vary by frame choice and lens design
Monocular PD from dispenser	Higher power lenses	Make sure right/left order is correct
Near PD from readers	Single-use reading glasses orders	Don’t submit near PD for distance glasses

Before you hit “buy”

Use this final pass to keep your order clean. It’s quick, and it reduces the odds you’ll be chasing remakes.

Save a screenshot of the page that shows PD, then keep your measurement notes with your prescription for next time.

• Make sure the PD you enter matches the lens type you selected (distance vs near).
• If your store allows dual PD, enter both numbers instead of forcing a single value.
• Re-read the question on the order form. Some sites ask for “distance PD” in small print.
• If you’re still stuck, send the seller a photo of your prescription and ask where they want PD entered.

And if you’re still wondering, where is my pupillary distance on my prescription? Start by hunting for “PD” or a pair like “32/31,” then pull a measurement if the paperwork leaves it out.

One more time: where is my pupillary distance on my prescription? It’s often on a dispensing page or a portal download, not the exam-only printout you got at checkout.