Ordering glasses online and the form asks for your PD, but your prescription slip doesn't show it? You're not alone. Many optometrists in India don't print it. Here's what PD is and how to measure it yourself.

What is PD?

Pupillary distance (PD) is the distance, in millimetres, between the centres of your two pupils. The lab uses it to place the optical centre of each lens directly in front of each eye. Most adults measure somewhere between about 54 and 74 mm, and children less.

  • Single PD: one number for both eyes together, e.g. 63.
  • Dual PD: one number per eye, measured from the centre of your nose, e.g. 31.5 / 31.5. It's more precise, especially for progressive lenses.

Method 1: A ruler and a mirror

  1. Stand about 20 cm from a mirror in good light.
  2. Hold a millimetre ruler flat against your brow, just above your eyes.
  3. Close your right eye and line up the ruler's 0 with the centre of your left pupil.
  4. Keep the ruler still. Close your left eye, open your right, and read the millimetre mark at the centre of your right pupil.
  5. Repeat 2–3 times and take the average.

Method 2: Ask someone to help

This is usually more accurate. Sit facing a friend at arm's length and look at a point in the distance over their shoulder. They hold the ruler against your brow and measure from the centre of one pupil to the centre of the other. Looking into the distance matters, because your eyes turn inward slightly when you focus up close.

Method 3: Use a pair that already fits

If you have prescription glasses that you see well through, an optician can often measure where the lens centres are. Bring them to the store, or ask us on WhatsApp what to do.

Distance PD vs near PD

The methods above measure your distance PD, which is right for most glasses. Reading glasses use a slightly smaller near PD, usually about 3 mm less. If you're ordering reading-only glasses, mention it and we'll account for it.

Not confident in your measurement?

That's completely fine. When you order from EYVRO you can leave the PD box blank, and we'll confirm it with you before the lenses are cut. A few millimetres out is a common reason new glasses "feel strange", so checking is always better than guessing.

Related: how to read the rest of your prescription.

Need a hand? Talk to us

EYVRO is the online brand of Deepak Opticals, Aligarh (opp. Gandhi Eye Hospital, Ramghat Road). If anything on your prescription or frame is unclear, send us a photo on WhatsApp and our opticians will tell you what they see, or visit the store for an eye test and fitting. You can also read our prescription help page or browse eyeglasses and add your prescription at checkout.