What does a prescription with both spherical and cylindrical corrections suggest about the patient’s vision?

A prescription that includes both spherical and cylindrical corrections indicates that the patient has astigmatism in addition to potentially other refractive errors, such as myopia or hyperopia.

Spherical corrections address issues related to myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness) by adjusting the uniform curvature of the lens to focus light properly onto the retina. In contrast, cylindrical corrections specifically target astigmatism, which occurs when the cornea or lens is irregularly shaped, leading to distortion in vision.

When a prescription includes both types of corrections, it reflects the complexity of the patient's visual needs, confirming the presence of astigmatism alongside a possible spherical refractive error. This multifaceted need for correction highlights that the patient does not have normal vision and requires a tailored approach to achieve optimal sight.