Bifocal Add: Image Jump and Image Displacement: Basic Optics, Chapter 24

Bifocal Add: Image Jump
and Image Displacement
Basic Optics, Chapter 24

2
Jump and Displacement

 Image jump and image displacement are
phenomena associated with bifocal additions
3

 Not an issue with PALs (progressive addition
lenses; i.e., no-line bifocals)
4

 Not an issue with PALs (progressive addition
lenses; i.e., no-line bifocals)
 Before delving into jump and displacement,
let’s talk about some background info:
 Lenses as prisms
 Types of bifocal add segments
 Optical centers
 Prentice’s rule of induced prism
5
Lenses as Prisms
Spherical lenses come in two basic flavors: Plus and minus

6
Lenses as Prisms
Recall that a plus lens can be thought of as

two prisms base-to-base =

7
Lenses as Prisms
Recall that a plus lens can be thought of as

two prisms base-to-base =
Likewise, a minus lens can be thought of as

two prisms apex-to-apex =
8
Types of Add Segments
Bifocal adds come in two basic flavors: Round top and flat top
9

top of segment
(Why it’s called a
‘round top’ segment)
Distance lens
Bifocal add
A round-top bifocal segment can be thought of as the top

half of a plus lens (and thus like a base-down prism)
10

top of segment
‘round top’ segment)
Distance lens
Bifocal add
A round-top bifocal segment can be thought of as the top

half of a plus lens (and thus like a base-down prism)
Distance lens
Likewise, a flat-top bifocal segment can be thought of

as the bottom half of a plus lens (i.e., a base-up prism)
Bifocal add top of segment

‘flat top’ segment)
11
Lenses: Optical Centers
The optical center of

the plus lens is right here,
in the center
Spherical lenses come in two

basic flavors: Plus and minus
12

in the center
Spherical lenses come in two


the minus lens is right here,
in the center
13

in the center
Spherical lenses come in two The optical center of the add is near its base;
i.e., near where it would be if the add were a
‘whole’ plus lens instead of half of one

in the center
14

in the center On a round-top add, the
optical center of the add is low

in the center
15

in the center On a round-top add, the
optical center of the add is low

in the center
On a flat-top add, the optical
center of the add is high
16
Prentice’s Rule of Induced Prism

Because lenses are fundamentally prisms, it is not surprising that lenses can have prismatic
effects. Prentice’s Rule states that the amount of prism (in prism diopters, PD) induced by a
lens is a function of the distance from the optical center through which one is looking, and the
dioptric power of the lens:
PD = hD
where h is the distance from the optical center in cm and D is the dioptric power of the lens.
17

PD = hD
Make sure you take note of this!

18

PD = hD
-3D
5 mm
Looking 5 mm below the optical center

of a -3D lens induces .5 x (-3) = 1.5D
of base-down prism
19

PD = hD
-3D +3D
5 mm 5 mm
Looking 5 mm below the optical center Looking 5 mm below the optical center
of a -3D lens induces .5 x (-3) = 1.5D of a +3D lens induces .5 x (3) = 1.5D
of base-down prism of base-up prism
20

effects. Prentice’s Rule
Virtual states
image that the amount of prism (in prism diopters, PD) induced by a
is displaced
toward the apex
PD(Dashed
= hD line indicates the image is virtual)
-3D +3D
Rays (and real image) are

displaced toward the base
5 mm 5 mm
Recall that light rays are bent toward the base of a prism,
with the result that the image seems to move toward the
apex of the prism…
Looking 5 mm below the optical center Looking 5 mm below the optical center
of a -3D lens induces .5 x (-3) = 1.5D of a +3D lens induces .5 x (3) = 1.5D
of base-down prism of base-up prism
21
Image Jump
 Image jump refers to a sudden change in
image location that occurs when gaze shifts
from the distance lens to the add segment
22
Image Jump
 Image jump refers to a sudden change in
image location that occurs when gaze shifts
from the distance lens to the add segment
 Think of it as a Prentice’s Rule issue owing to the
location of the optical center of the add segment
23
Image Jump
Image jump: A sudden change in
image location occurring when gaze
shifts into the bifocal add segment
Bifocal add:
Flat-Top segment
PD=hD
=(~zero)D
=little/no prism
h h
The optical center of a flat-top segment is

high. When gaze shifts downward into the
add, one is looking through or very near its
optical center. Because there is little or no
induced prism (i.e., h is small or zero),
images do not seem to jump.
24
Image Jump
Bifocal add: Bifocal add:

Flat-Top segment Round-Top segment
PD=hD PD=hD
=(~zero)D =(Large#)D
=little/no prism =lots of prism
h h
h h
The optical center of a flat-top segment is However, the optical center of a round-top
high. When gaze shifts downward into the segment is low. Therefore, when gaze shifts
add, one is looking through or very near its downward into the add, one is suddenly looking
optical center. Because there is little or no through a lens at considerable distance from
induced prism (i.e., h is small or zero), its optical center (i.e., h is large). This abruptly
images do not seem to jump. induces a significant amount of prism, and
images will seem to jump (upwards, toward
the apex of the add segment ‘prism’).
25
Image Jump
Bifocal add: Bifocal add:

Flat-Top segment Round-Top segment
PD=hD PD=hD
=(~zero)D =(Large#)D
=little/no prism =lots of prism
h h
h h
The optical center of a flat-top segment is However, the optical center of a round-top
high. When gaze shifts downward into the segment is low. Therefore, when gaze shifts
add, one is looking through or very near its downward into the add, one is suddenly looking
optical center. Because there is little or no through a lens at considerable distance from
induced prism (i.e., h is small or zero), its optical center (i.e., h is large). This abruptly
images do not seem to jump. induces a significant amount of prism, and
images will seem to jump (upwards, toward
the apex of the add segment ‘prism’).
Therefore, for both plus and minus lenses, image

jump is minimized with a flat-top segment
26
Image Displacement
 Image displacement refers to the total apparent
distance between an image viewed through the
distance lens versus through the add segment
27
Image Displacement
 Image displacement refers to the total apparent
distance between an image viewed through the
distance lens versus through the add segment
 Think of it as owing to net prismatic effects
 The magnitude of image displacement is a function of
the total net prism acting on the image through the
bifocal segment
28
Image Displacement
The magnitude of image displacement is
a function of the total net prism acting
on the image through the bifocal segment
29
Image Displacement
Bifocal adds: Plus lenses
When a round-top segment

is placed on a plus lens, note
how the prismatic effects BU
work to cancel each other
BD
BU+BD=Little net prism

little image displacement
30
Image Displacement

BD

BU BU However, when a flat-top

segment is placed on a plus
lens, note how the prismatic
effect is amplified
BU+BU=Lots of net prism
lots of image displacement
31
Image Displacement

BD


effect is amplified
For a plus lens, image displacement

is minimized with a round-top segment
32
Image Displacement
Bifocal adds: Plus lenses Bifocal adds: Minus lenses
When a round-top segment When a round-top segment

is placed on a plus lens, note is placed on a minus lens,
how the prismatic effects BU note how the prismatic effects
work to cancel each other amplify one another
BD BD BD
BU+BD=Little net prism BD+BD=Lots of net prism

little image displacement lots of image displacement

effect is amplified

33
Image Displacement

BD BD BD

BU BU However, when a flat-top However, when a flat-top BU

segment is placed on a plus segment is placed on a minus
lens, note how the prismatic lens, the prismatic effects
effect is amplified work to cancel one another BD
BU+BU=Lots of net prism BD+BU=Little net prism

lots of image displacement little image displacement

34
Image Displacement

BD BD BD

BU BU However, when a flat-top However, when a flat-top BU

segment is placed on a plus segment is placed on a minus
lens, note how the prismatic lens, the prismatic effects
effect is amplified work to cancel one another BD
BU+BU=Lots of net prism BD+BU=Little net prism

lots of image displacement little image displacement
For a plus lens, image displacement For a minus lens, image displacement
is minimized with a round-top segment is minimized with a flat-top segment
35
Putting It Together: Which Add Is Best?

36

Bifocal adds: Bifocal adds:
Minus lenses Plus lenses
h h
A flat-top segment minimizes
image jump A flat-top segment minimizes
image jump
As stated previously, a flat-top segment minimizes

image jump for both plus and minus lenses
37

h h
image jump
When a flat-top segment is

BU
placed on a minus lens, the
prismatic effects work to
cancel one another BD
BD+BU=Little net prism
38

h h
image jump
So, for minus lenses the choice
of add type is easy: A flat-top
minimizes both image jump
and displacement

BU
39

h h
image jump
of add type is easy: A flat-top
minimizes both image jump
and displacement

BU
For a minus lens, always

select a flat-top segment
40

h h
image jump
of add type is easy: A flat-top For plus lenses, the choice is
minimizes both image jump not as easy: A flat-top will
and displacement minimize jump…

BU

41

h h
image jump
and displacement minimize jump…but a round-
top minimizes displacement
When a flat-top segment is BU
BU When a round-top segment
prismatic effects work to is placed on a plus lens, the
cancel one another prismatic effects work to
BD BD cancel each other
BD+BU=Little net prism BU+BD=Little net prism
little image displacement little image displacement

42

h h
image jump
and displacement minimize jump…but a round-
When a flat-top segment is BU
BU When a round-top segment
prismatic effects work to is placed on a plus lens, the
cancel one another prismatic effects work to
BD BD cancel each other
BD+BU=Little net prism BU+BD=Little net prism
little image displacement little image displacement
For a minus lens, always So which is the best add

select a flat-top segment segment for a plus lens?
43

Bifocal adds:
 The choice of segment Plus lenses
type for hyperopic adds
depends on whether one h

needs to minimize jump vs image jump
displacement For plus lenses, the choice is
not as easy: A flat-top will
minimize jump…but a round-
BU
is placed on a plus lens, the
BD cancel each other
So which is the best add

segment for a plus lens?
44

Bifocal adds:

 Jump might bother waiters minimize jump…but a round-
 Displacement might bother top minimizes displacement
BU
desk workers When a round-top segment

45

Bifocal adds:

 Jump might bother waiters minimize jump…but a round-
 Displacement might bother top minimizes displacement
BU
desk workers When a round-top segment
 In practice, most specs are prismatic effects work to
made with flat-top segs BU+BD=Little net prism
 Easier and cheaper to make

Bifocal Add: Image Jump and Image Displacement: Basic Optics, Chapter 24

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Bifocal Add: Image Jump and Image Displacement: Basic Optics, Chapter 24

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Bifocal Add: Image Jump

and Image Displacement

Basic Optics, Chapter 24

Jump and Displacement

Jump and Displacement

Jump and Displacement

Spherical lenses come in two basic flavors: Plus and minus

Recall that a plus lens can be thought of as

Spherical lenses come in two basic flavors: Plus and minus

Recall that a plus lens can be thought of as

Spherical lenses come in two basic flavors: Plus and minus

Likewise, a minus lens can be thought of as

Types of Add Segments

Types of Add Segments

A round-top bifocal segment can be thought of as the top

Types of Add Segments

A round-top bifocal segment can be thought of as the top

Likewise, a flat-top bifocal segment can be thought of

(Why it’s called a

Lenses: Optical Centers

The optical center of

Spherical lenses come in two

Lenses: Optical Centers

The optical center of

Spherical lenses come in two

The optical center of

Lenses: Optical Centers

The optical center of

The optical center of

Lenses: Optical Centers

The optical center of

The optical center of

Lenses: Optical Centers

The optical center of

The optical center of

Prentice’s Rule of Induced Prism

Prentice’s Rule of Induced Prism

Make sure you take note of this!

Prentice’s Rule of Induced Prism

Looking 5 mm below the optical center

Prentice’s Rule of Induced Prism

Prentice’s Rule of Induced Prism

Rays (and real image) are

The optical center of a flat-top segment is

Bifocal add: Bifocal add:

Bifocal add: Bifocal add:

Therefore, for both plus and minus lenses, image

Bifocal adds: Plus lenses

When a round-top segment

BU+BD=Little net prism

Bifocal adds: Plus lenses

When a round-top segment

BU+BD=Little net prism

BU BU However, when a flat-top

Bifocal adds: Plus lenses

When a round-top segment

BU+BD=Little net prism

BU BU However, when a flat-top

For a plus lens, image displacement

Bifocal adds: Plus lenses Bifocal adds: Minus lenses

When a round-top segment When a round-top segment

BU+BD=Little net prism BD+BD=Lots of net prism