Plus power

Plus power is the correction value that indicates how many positive dioptres you need to see clearly. The power is expressed in dioptres and preceded by a plus sign, for example +1.50 or +3.25. The higher the number, the stronger the correction.

You need a plus power if you have hypermetropia orpresbyopia. With hypermetropia, the focal point of light lies behind the retina, which means you have particular difficulty seeing clearly at close range. With presbyopia, the eye’s lens loses its elasticity, meaning that from around the age of 40, you will find it increasingly difficult to read and carry out other tasks at close range.

A plus power in spectacles or contact lenses ensures that light is focused more strongly before it enters your eye, so that the focal point falls on the retina again. The lens acts like a magnifying glass: it enlarges the image slightly and brings it into focus.

How do you read a plus power on your prescription?

On a prescription or lens packaging, the plus power is listed in the ‘spherical’ or ‘SPH’ column, preceded by a plus sign. For example: OD +2.00 means that your right eye requires a correction of plus two dioptres. If there is no plus or minus sign, a positive power usually applies.

Difference between plus and minus

A plus power corrects hyperopia, whilst a minus power (negative dioptre) corrects myopia. In myopia, the focal point lies just in front of the retina, and you have difficulty seeing clearly at a distance. The two are opposites: a plus power focuses light more strongly, whilst a minus power spreads it out.

Plus power in contact lenses

At SMEYEL , you’ll find contact lenses in a variety of plus powers, for both daily and monthly use. Please note that the power of your contact lenses may sometimes differ slightly from your spectacle prescription, as a contact lens sits directly on your eye whilst a spectacle lens is positioned at a distance. Your optician or optometrist will determine the correct power for your lenses.

Multifocal and reading lenses

For presbyopia, you can choose between reading glasses with a plus power for close-up vision only, or multifocal lenses that combine multiple powers. Multifocal contact lenses feature zones for distance, intermediate and close-up vision, allowing you to see reasonably clearly at all distances without having to change your glasses.