MANUAL

LENSOMETRY
Norma Garber, COMT
University Park, Florida

© 2011 Norma Garber

OBJECTIVE
To measure the prescription of a
patient’s existing glasses, contact lenses,
magnifiers, or other optical devices
The lensometer MEASURES the
refractive power of the lens
Spherical and cylindrical power (Diopters)
Axis of cylinder
Presence of prism
Placement of the lens optical centers

© 2011 Norma Garber

 Algebra Calculations

Algebraic Addition Algebraic Subtraction

Like signs add Like signs subtract
+3.00 + +1.00 = +4.00 +2.25 - +0.75 = +1.50
-2.50 + -1.00 = -3.50 -4.00 - -2.00 = -2.00
Unlike signs subtract Unlike signs add
+6.00 + -5.00 = +1.00
+5.00 - -1.25 = 6.25

© 2011 Norma Garber

 TRICKS ON CALCULATING
CLYINDER AND ADD
Algebraic subtraction
+3
Like signs subtract one
+3.00 +2 unit
+2.00
1.00 unit change +1
Unlike signs add two
+1.00 units
-1
-1.00
2.00 unit change
-2
Sign depends on cylinder notation
+ or -, but is always + for bifocals. -3
© 2011 Norma Garber
 Purpose of lensometry
To have a starting point in
verifying that the
prescription gives the
BEST VISUAL ACUITY

© 2011 Norma Garber

 Types of lensometers
MECHANICAL AUTOMATED
Need to know Little understanding
Algebraic addition needed to get the
and subtraction measurement
Some basic optical Must know how
facts machine works
Understand why Still need to know
measurement done basic optical facts
How to transpose to Machine can
required + or – transpose to correct
cylinder the + or – cylinder
prescription refraction required

© 2011 Norma Garber

 Steps in performing manual
lensometry
Setting eyepiece
Positioning the glasses
Measuring the sphere
Deciding which way to read
cylinders
Plus or Minus notation

© 2011 Norma Garber

PARTS OF THE
LENSOMETER

© 2011 Norma Garber

FIRST STEP
SET EYEPIECE
Turn eyepiece counter clockwise to full
extent
Set power drum to high plus (i.e..: +15.00)
Mires are out of focus
Look in machine and turn the eyepiece
until the small black cross, in the center
viewer, is sharp
Do not overturn - this induces
accommodation
Want the MOST PLUS setting with the
sharpest image - NOTE EYEPIECE SETTING
© 2011 Norma Garber
WHAT YOU ARE VIEWING
BLACK MARKINGS
Center black cross - for
placement of optical
center of lens
Concentric black circles -
for displacement of
x
optical center with prisms
Black diagonal line -
moves by turning the
Knurled knob - for prism
power and base
© 2011 Norma Garber
The lensometer reticle

 Center “X” under

which the lens optical
center is placed. This is
where the lens position
is place in front of the
patient’s visual axis.
 Concentric rings
designating prism
power.
 The rotating prism axis
line.

© 2011 Norma Garber

What you are viewing
GREEN MIRES
TWO TYPES
Single line made up
of three lines close
together
Triple line made up
of three fat lines
spaced apart
Each type of mire
focuses
independently
Placement of the
lenses optical center

© 2011 Norma Garber

The lensometer mires
“Single” line that Prism Power Indicators

reads sphere power

Protractor
5

“S
A
“Triple” lines that

IN
3

G
”

LE
ES
IR

M
M

IR
2

E”
E
L
IP
TR
reads cylinder power.

“
1

5 “Single” &
“Triple” mires
In this illustration the unknown lens can move 360
“ PRISM RETICLE” degrees, but,
is a sphere, because, BOTH the
“single and triple” mires are in focus always stay per-
simultaneously. pendicular to
When the “single and triple” mires each other
focus independent of each other, a
cylinder or toric lens exists.

© 2011 Norma Garber

 Positioning the lens
Move the lens so the
center of the green
mires is under the black
“X” in the viewer.
Try to focus the green
mires as best you can -
one set may be out of
focus compared to the X
other set - Switch back
and forth to find the
center of the green set
in relation to the “X”
© 2011 Norma Garber
 Reading spherical corrections
Place the lens in the  If you turn the power
lensometer wheel toward you -
you are adding plus
See if both green mires diopters
focus simultaneously  If you turn the wheel
with the power wheel away - you are going
If yes - note the power minus +1.00D

in the window or on TOWARD

PLUS
+0.75D
+0.50D
the power dial in 0.25D +0.25D
0.00D
steps -0.25D
AWAY -0.50D
MINUS -0.75D
-1.00D
© 2011 Norma Garber
 The power wheel
The power can be
marked on the power PLUS
DIRECTION
wheel
Or read in a window
inside the lensometer.
To increase plus move
the wheel toward you - MINUS

for increased minus DIRECTION

move the wheel away.

© 2011 Norma Garber
 Protractor that
indicates the axis
of the cylinder or
toric lens
5

“s c h tr il is
a s i n h T th d e s

“S
e us e t “ w t h
gl fi am le” e
n nt ill s. s nte ir

in o n e s ip l b

IN
tio sco s w ocu , a se m

th uo av he ey in
3

G
di ire of f tion pre LE”

LE
e ” gu e

M
a re P

ire -
ou lust not R I

m ra

IR
s.
T
2

E”
ar he “
T

r
il e
1

m t

Lensometer 1 The “Single” mire

can move 360 de-
grees. But, it al-

Mires and
ways stays perpen-
2
dicular to the out of
focus“Triple” mire.

Reticle for
3

presence of 5

cylinder © 2011 Norma Garber

 Reading cylinders
DECIDE IF READING IN PLUS FORM
PLUS CYLINDER
Write power as the
Set to -10.00D sphere
Focus single mire Do not move axis
For continuous lines wheel
For sharp focus by turning Keep turning power
the power dial TOWARD toward you until the
you triple line is focused
Algebraically
Make sure the first line in subtract for cylinder
focus is the SINGLE Mire - power
if not turn axis wheel for a Note axis setting
continuous single line © 2011 Norma Garber
 Example for PLUS CYLINDERS
Lens placed at optical center and power on -
10.00D setting
Get Single line continuous & first in focus
by adjusting axis dial & turning power
toward you: power at -1.25D, write -1.25S
Triple line next in focus at +0.25D
Algebraic Subtraction -1.25 +0.25 = 1.50 net change
Like signs subtract - unlike signs add
Write cylinder after sphere: i.e.... 1-.25S+1.50C
Note cylinder axis on dial: i.e.... x 35o
Full Rx: -1.25S +1.50C x 35o
© 2011 Norma Garber
 Reading cylinders
MINUS CYLINDER – Write power as the
sphere
Set to +10.00D
– Do not move axis
Focus single mire wheel
For continuous lines – Keep turning power
For sharp focus by turning away from you until
the power dial AWAY from the triple line is
you focused
Make sure the first line in » Algebraically
subtract for cylinder
focus is the SINGLE Mire - power
if not turn axis wheel for a
– Note axis setting
continuous single line
© 2011 Norma Garber
Example for MINUS CYLINDERS
Lens placed at optical center and power on
+10.00D setting
Get SINGLE line continuous & first in focus by
turning dial AWAY FROM you
Power reads +6.00D - write +6.00S
Triple line next in focus at +4.25D
Algebraic Subtraction +6.00 +4.25 = 1.75 change
Like signs subtract - unlike signs add
Write cylinder after sphere: i.e.... +6.00S -1.75C
Note cylinder axis on dial: i.e.... x 90o
Full Rx: +6.00S -1.75C x 90o
© 2011 Norma Garber
 SUMMARY
Learn the parts and adjustments of the
lensometer
Learn the way to set up for manual and
automated lensometry
Understand optics and algebraic
addition or subtraction
Know the characteristics of spheres and
cylinders and how to identify them
Learn transposition

© 2011 Norma Garber