LENSOMETRY

Learning objectives
• Detection of type of lens
• Hand neutralization
• Neutralize Convex lens
• Neutralize Concave lens
• Neutralize Toric lens
• Geneva Lens measure
• Manual Focimeter
• Automated Focimeter
 Detection of lens type
• Possible to detect weather the lens is
• Spherical,
• Astigmatic, or a
• Prism
Ways to detect lens type:
• Central/peripheral thickness
• Magnification/ Minification
• Movements
 Spherical Lenses

• Spherical causes no distortion of the cross,

however when lens is moved from
• ‘side to side’ and ‘up and down’ it appear to
move.
• Use lenses of opposite movements:
• Against Movement: Use Concave Lenses (with
movement Lens).
• With Movement: Use Convex Lenses (against
movement Lens).
Convex Lens Movements
 Astigmatic Lens
• For a toric lens,
rotational motion is
used to find the axis
• If observe “against
motion,” use plus
cylinder axis
• If observe “with
motion,” use minus
cylinder axis
 Errors in Hand Neutralization
• Error can be induced in Hand held neutralizing
technique such as:
• It is somewhat inaccurate for curved lenses of
more than about 2 diopter power.
• Error upto 0.50D may be incurred with
powerful lenses.
Geneva Lens Measure
 Lens Measure
• It is defined as,
“A device for measuring the radii of the
curvature of a spectacle lens”
 Measurements of lenses:
• It uses three(3) pins to
measure the curvature of a
spectacle lens.
• The clock is calibrated at front
and back side of the lens, in
order to measure the power
of lens.
• Refractive index calibrated is
1.523 of Crown glass.
• Other material can also be
calculated by applying the
correction factor.
 Draw backs of Geneva Lens Measure

• Only Calibrated at Ref. index 1.523 for crown

glass.
• 0.25D errors may obtain.
• May cause a scratch on plastic Materials.
 Manual Lensometer (Focimeter)
• Definition:
• “ A focimeter is used to measure the vertex
power of a lens.”
• Green light is used to eliminate chromatic
aberrations.
• It is portable.
• Measures ranges up to +20D to -20D.
 Uses
• Single Vision lenses
• Bifocal lenses
• Trifocal lenses
• Progressive Addition lenses
• Determine the Sphere power
• Determine the Cylindrical lens power
• Mark the optical centre
• Contact lens power
• Power of prism
 Method to operate:

• The steps are:

• Adjust the eye piece.
• Align the Power Drum at zero, making sharply
formed mires inside if not make zero error
correction
• Mount the glass with back surface of the lens
against the rest.
• Calculate the power by rotating the drum.
 Measurement of spherical power
• More easy to determine the power if the
power is spherical, keep rotating the drum
until clear dot circle/ mire is seen.
 Cylinder lenses
• Rotate the drum to sharply focus lines on first
meridian is the spherical power.
• Repeat the process for second meridian is
focus, difference of both is cylinder and note
the axis on graticule
 Measurement of Bifocal
• For measuring the distance correction of a bifocal
lens, we want to measure the lens at the optical
center.
• The optical center of a conventional bifocal lens is
just above the center of the horizontal line of the
bifocal lens and read the near correction from the
• center of the lower segment.
• For determining add power, turn glasses around
to read from front vertex.
 Measurement of Trifocal

• As with the bifocal , read the distance

correction just above the segment line,
• and read the near correction from the center
of the lower segment.
 Measurement of Progressive lenses

• Locate the centre to make the reading accurate,

otherwise is similar to the simple lensometery.
• All new pair contain sticker on it, which describe
geometry of lens.
• The add power is read through the lower/nasal area
of the lens
• Conventional progressive addition is measured from
front vertex, while free form progressive from backvertex.
• However, automated is more suitable for this purpose.
 Measurement of prism

• Prism moves (deflects) the lensometer target away

from the center of the reticle.
• The target is deflected in the direction of the prism
base.
• When viewing the mires, lines may be off-center.
• The rings inside the lensometer are measured at 1
prism diopter.
• The number of rings from the center of the reticle that
the lines are over is the amount of prism in the glasses.
 Limitations of Manual focimeter

• Although it is good for single vision lenses, but

may misguide in addition determination of
bifocal/trifocal lenses.
• Power varies with 0.25D difference don’t
calculate 0.12D difference.
• Difficult in case of progressive lenses.
• Can cause damage to the contact lenses
 Automated Focimeter

Principle:
The degree to which a beam of light is
deflected as it passes through the lens
depends on the focal and prismatic power
of the lens and the distance from its optical
centre.
 Working

• A square pattern of four parallel beam of light

is passed through the lens to be tested.
• It is quick and easy, minimum expertise
required to handle. .
• Accuracy is variable with machine to machine.
 Important Uses:

• It can used for accuracy in all conditions:

• Proper centration/ decentration
• Axis Marking.
• Measuring power of near addition lens (bifocal,
trifocal, progressive)
• Some models also measure Abbe no.
• The lens also be measured with 0.01D or 0.12D
difference.
• IPD measurement of lens mounted spectacle
THANK YOU