Sagitta of ophthalmic lenses - Faria‐e‐Sousa - 2020 - Ophthalmic and P... https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/opo.

12732

Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics / Volume 40, Issue 6 / p. 828-829

Technical Note Full Access

Sagitta of ophthalmic lenses

Sidney Julio Faria-e-Sousa 

First published: 18 September 2020

https://doi.org/10.1111/opo.12732
Citations: 1

Abstract

Purpose
To propose alternative formulas for the sagitta calculation of ophthalmic lenses.

Methods
Equation factoring.

Results
The conventional sagitta formula is algebraically inconsistent when applied to curves with
direction-oriented radii. It is possible to correct this problem by factoring it.

Conclusions
The conventional sagitta formula can and should be replaced by unambiguous equations.

1 Introduction
In geometry, the sagitta (sag) of a circular arc is the distance from its apex to the chord. It is a
crucial concept in the building of vaults, the very essence of architecture. In optics, it is
employed mainly to �nd the depth of spherical mirrors and the thickness of convex lenses,
being described by the equation

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(1)

where r and c are the arc’s radius of curvature and chordal diameter, respectively.1, 2

Since Equation 1 derives from the Pythagorean equation

(2)

where both terms are sides of a right triangle with r as hypotenuse (Figure 1), this
representation is inaccurate due to the absence of the ±sign before the radical expression. The
replacement of the plus or minus by a single minus sign is tolerable for vault constructing
where r is a numerical value; nevertheless, it is inadequate for those cases where it assumes
alternative signs, as in lens designing.

Figure 1

Open in �gure viewer PowerPoint

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Sagitta of ophthalmic lenses - Faria‐e‐Sousa - 2020 - Ophthalmic and P... https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/opo.12732

Sagitta of an arc of a circle. s: sagitta; r: radius of curvature; c: chordal diameter.

To better understand this inconsistency, we must acknowledge that Equation 1 has two
restrictions as follows: (1) the radicand must be greater or equal to zero, and (2) the sagitta
must be, by geometric imposition, smaller or equal to the radius of curvature. The �rst
limitation requires discretion regarding the selection of curves, guided by the inequality
r2 ≥ c2/4. The second requires opposite signs between the �rst term (r) and the radical
expression. Any breach of the last constraint leads to larger-than-the-radii sagittas that �ag the
need for a plus or minus sign before the radical expression.

When calculating the centre thickness of convex lenses with the formula.

(3)

where tc and te are the centre and edge thickness and s1 and s2 the front and rear sagitta, we
must choose the proper sign for the radical expression. For example, if the lens is a meniscus,
with r2 ≥ 0, it calls for the straightforward use of Equation 1 to �nd s2, leading to s2 ≥ 0;
however, if the lens is biconvex, with r2 ≤ 0, it entails the replacement of the minus by a plus
sign before the radical symbol, leading to s2 ≤ 0. The front surface of both lenses, with r1 ≥ 0,
requires identical management to the rear surface of the meniscus lens, leading to s1 ≥ 0. In
summary, negative radii of curvature require a plus sign and positive radii of curvature a minus
sign before the radical expression of Equation 1 to provide tangible sagittas.

2 Method, result and discussion

By factoring Equation 1, we end up with the following equation, which waives sign selection:

(4)

In Equation 4, the radius of curvature will always be numerically greater or equal to the sagitta,
as it will continuously manifest the opposite sign of the radical expression. This equation allows
for the free use of the direction-oriented radii of curvature without further concern. By bearing
the same sign as their radii of curvature, the resulting sags will qualify for direct insertion into
Equation 3.

To those used to conveying curvature by dioptric power, the last equation allows a front (F1)
and back surface power (F2) version, as follows:

(5)

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(6)

For programming purposes, it might be easier to rewrite Equation 6 as.

(7)

We acknowledge that others have provided equations, involving the use of the curvature (1/R),
that o�er solutions to the sagitta sign issue, although whether this was intended is not known.
An example is:

In summary, the conventional sagitta formula is algebraically inconsistent when applied to

curves with direction-oriented radii of curvature. That formula can and should be replaced by
unambiguous equations. All those considerations presuppose that positive distances follow,
and negative distances oppose, the light direction.

3 Author contributions
Sidney Julio Faria-e-Sousa: Conceptualization (lead); Data curation (lead); Formal analysis
(lead); Investigation (lead); Methodology (lead); Project administration (lead); Resources (lead);
Software (lead); Supervision (lead); Validation (lead); Visualization (lead); Writing-original draft
(lead); Writing-review & editing (lead).

References 


1 Brooks CW & Borish IM. Lens curvature and thickness. In: Brooks & Borish’s system for optical
dispensing, 3rd edn, Butterworth-Heinemann: St Louis, 2007, (Brooks CW & Borish IM, editor), pp. 309.
Crossref | Google Scholar

2 Bennett E & Weissman BA. Optical phenomena of contact lenses. In: Bennett & Weissman’s Clinical
contact lens practice. Lippincott Williams & Williams: Philadelphia, 2005, (Bennett E & Weissman BA,
editor), pp. 149.
Google Scholar

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