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The optical prescription is one of the most important documents an eye care center issues. A patient’s complete prescription history - going back years - tells the clinician how their vision has changed over time and whether the change is within expected limits. Prescriptions stored in the system can be retrieved instantly at any visit, printed for the patient, or emailed directly.

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Before You Start

  • You need the Healthcare Practitioner role (Ophthalmologist or Optometrist).
  • A Patient Encounter (eye examination) must be started for the current visit.
  • Refraction must have been completed before recording the prescription.

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What an Optical Prescription Contains

A full spectacle prescription has values for each eye: A contact lens prescription also includes:

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Recording a Spectacle Prescription

Spectacle prescriptions are recorded inside the Patient Encounter (eye examination) using the Drug Prescription section and/or the Review Details free text field. In the Review Details field of the Patient Encounter, record the full refraction and prescription in a standard format:
Review Details field in the Patient Encounter showing full refraction data with sphere, cylinder, axis, and add values for both eyes

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Method 2: Drug Prescription Table (for Structured Prescription Entry)

If your center uses the Drug Prescription table for prescriptions:
  1. In the Drug Prescription section, add a row
  2. In Drug Code, search for “Spectacle Prescription” (set up as an item)
  3. In the Dosage/Notes or Period field, record the prescription values

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Printing the Prescription

Once the examination is submitted:
  1. Open the Patient Encounter record
  2. Click Print
  3. Select the “Spectacle Prescription” print format (if configured by your admin)
  4. Print and hand to the patient
The prescription printout typically includes:
  • Patient name and date of birth
  • Examination date
  • Prescription values for each eye
  • Doctor/optometrist name and signature
  • Clinic name and contact details
Printed spectacle prescription showing clinic header, patient details, and prescription table with sphere, cylinder, axis, and addition values for right and left eyes

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Emailing the Prescription

If the patient prefers email:
  1. Open the submitted Patient Encounter
  2. Click Email
  3. The prescription is sent to the patient’s email address on their profile
The patient can also view their prescription through the patient portal (see Patient Portal section below).

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Recording a Contact Lens Prescription

Contact lens prescriptions are recorded similarly in the Review Details field, with the additional parameters:

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Viewing Prescription History

Because every prescription is stored in a submitted Patient Encounter, the patient’s full prescription history is available in the Patient History timeline.
  1. Open Patient History (from the workspace shortcut)
  2. Search for the patient
  3. Filter by “Patient Encounter” record type
  4. Scroll through the timeline to see each examination and its prescription
This is extremely useful for tracking:
  • Progression of myopia in children (is the prescription changing rapidly?)
  • Stability of glaucoma treatment (are IOPs staying controlled?)
  • Changes in cataract patients (when does the vision deterioration warrant surgery?)
Patient History timeline filtered to show Patient Encounter records, with each encounter showing the date and examination summary

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Prescription on the Patient Portal

Patients with portal access can log in and view their prescriptions at any time without calling the clinic. On the portal, the patient sees submitted Patient Encounter records. The prescription is inside the encounter record they open. To enable portal access for a patient: Open the Patient record, tick Invite as User, and save. See Patient Management for the full setup process.

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Best Practices

  • Always record the visual acuity achieved with the new prescription alongside the prescription values - a prescription that gives 6/12 instead of 6/6 needs a note explaining why (amblyopia, corneal scar, etc.)
  • For children’s prescriptions, note the cycloplegic refraction separately from the subjective refraction - the cycloplegic result (done under eye drops) is the true refractive error; the subjective is what the child can actually tolerate in their glasses
  • Always note whether the prescription is for distance only, reading only, or bifocal/progressive lenses - the optician cannot dispense correctly without this
  • For contact lens prescriptions, note the wearing schedule and review date - contact lens patients need regular checks that differ from spectacle patients
  • For presbyopic patients, note the near working distance if it is unusual - office workers need a different near addition to someone doing detailed close work (e.g., jewellery)