Measuring your PD

What is a Pupillary Distance (PD)?

Your pupillary distance is the distance between the centres of your two pupils (the black parts in the middle of your eyes).

Why is PD important?

Getting your PD as accurate as possible is important when buying new glasses because it ensures you’ll be looking through the best part of the lens for the clearest vision.

How do I get my PD measurement?

Whilst most opticians will not put PD on your prescription, there are a couple of ways to get your PD measurement yourself:

  1. You can call your optician and ask them if they can provide it for you

  2. You can take the measurement yourself using a mirror and a ruler

So how do I measure my own PD?

First, you’ll need a mirror and a ruler. PD is measured in millimetres.

Ready? Let’s get going!

1. Stand around an arm’s length away from the mirror

2. Hold the ruler against your eyebrows

3. Close your right eye, and line up the 0mm mark with the middle of your left pupil

4. Look straight ahead, close your left eye and open your right eye

5. Your PD is the figure that lines up with the middle of your right pupil. For an adult, this is usually between 54-74mm.