Which statement best describes minus cylinder notation in neutralization results?

• A. The cylinder power is positive, and axis indicates orientation.
• B. The cylinder power is negative, and axis indicates orientation.
• C. The cylinder power is zero.
• D. There is no cylinder in minus cylinder lens.

Answer: (B)

Minus cylinder notation expresses astigmatic correction with a negative cylindrical power, and the axis marks the meridian that receives no cylindrical power. The cylinder is applied in the meridians perpendicular to the axis, so you have a negative cylinder power along those meridians while the axis itself remains free of cylinder. That’s why describing the cylinder power as negative and the axis as the orientation is the most accurate way to read minus cylinder notation. In contrast, plus-cylinder notation uses a positive cylinder value with the axis still indicating the zero-cylinder meridian, and a zero cylinder would mean there’s no cylindrical correction at all.