Pupillary distance (PD) | What is PD and how to measure your PD

When the time comes to select new glasses, it can be useful to understand a few simple factors. To pick out eyewear that meets all of your needs, you need to know what various numbers and designations are for. For example, you might hear a bit about pupillary distance. To get the best glasses for your needs, you can definitely benefit by learning more about what is PD. Use these tips to get a better understanding of the average distance for both men and women.

Your eyes are set at a particular distance from each other, which can vary from person to person. The distance between the center of one pupil to the center of the other is referred to as Pupillary Distance (PD).

What Is PD?

To begin, it can be useful to understand what is PD on glasses. Essentially, your pupillary distance is the measured space between the center of each of your pupils. This is typically expressed in millimeters. The value is usually written out as a single number, unless one eye is further from the faces center than the other. The reason that this measurement is important when it comes to your eyewear is because it dictates exactly how the lenses are crafted. If the measurements are off, it can completely alter the way the glasses feel and work.

Typically, the Pupillary Distance falls in a range between 54 and 65 mm. As children grow up, their PD keeps on changing but once they become adults, this value remains constant.

Your prescription can either have one PD value or two PD values, knowing your PD is very important so that you may buy prescription glasses that fit your face perfectly. It is essential that your glasses lenses are directly focused over your pupils so that you can enjoy proper vision.

Determining PD

While the best way to get an accurate reading of your PD is by visiting with an eye doctor or specialist, you can get a general idea of your own distance on your own. Grab a ruler and stand about 8 inches away from a mirror. Placing the ruler flat against the mirror, close your right eye and align the zero mark of the ruler with the center point of the pupil on your left eye. Holding the ruler in the exact same position, open your right eye and follow the same procedure.

Since this isn't the most accurate method of how to find pupillary distance, you want to repeat the process a few times. The number you see the most frequently is likely to be the most accurate. Again, a professional can provide a more concrete number for you to work with. While the measurement does not need to be 100% correct for your glasses to work, you still l want the number to be as close as possible to your actual PD.

Average PD for Men and Women

An interesting fact about pupillary distance is that it seems to be somewhat consistent between men and women. Though face shapes vary widely and eyes can have a variety of placements in relation to the nose, it seems that there is still an average that proves pretty accurate. In general, a persons PD will usually range somewhere between 58mm and 68mm. For men, the average has been documented at 64mm. Meanwhile, the average PD for women is about 62mm. These numbers are not set in stone, of course, and your own distance could fall anywhere in the range.

When it comes to picking out new glasses from EyeglassesPro, you want to have all of your information ready to go before you even begin your search. Take time to get a better idea of areas like what is PD in order to feel confident in your decision. With a little research, you‘ll have all the knowledge you need to select the perfect pair of glasses.