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Lensometry

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Musa Mutali Marco Zeppieri

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Musa MJ, Zeppieri M. Lensometry. 2023 Nov 12. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL):
StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 37983345.

Lensometry
Article Editor:
Marco Zeppieri
Assigned Author:
Mutali J Musa

Updated:
11/12/2023 7:42:43 PM

Introduction

Lensometry measures the strength and prescription of eyeglasses or contact lenses using a
lensmeter, an instrument sometimes referred to as a focimeter, vertometer, or Lensometer™. The
two common indications for lensometry are the measurement of the power of spectacles during
an ophthalmic examination and the verification of spectacle prescriptions created in an optical
laboratory.[1]

Lensometry is based on the concept of lens neutralization, which states that the resultant power
of a lens system is equal to the power required to neutralize its properties towards a net value of
zero. The inbuilt lenses of a lensmeter are an adjustable collimator.[2] Lensmeters may be
manual, semi-automated, or fully automated.[3][4] The lensmeter makes it possible to measure
the dioptric vertex power, optical center, cylindrical axis, and prism of a lens; some lensmeters
can also measure the amounts of tint, light transmission, and ultraviolet transmission of a lens.
This activity reviews the indications, contraindications, necessary preparation, technique, and
clinical significance of lensometry while highlighting the role of the interprofessional eye care
team in caring for patients who use lenses to correct refractive errors.

Indications

The indications for lensometry include measuring the power, optic center, prismatic power and
direction of a lens, and marking the optical axis and lens alignment before fitting.

Contraindications

There are no contraindications to lensometry.

Equipment

Several manual lensmeters are commercially available (see Image. Manual Lensmeter). A
typical lensmeter consists of the following parts:

• Power switch: switches the equipment on and off.

• Illumination system: may be battery-powered or connected to AC/DC output
mains. Plug-in lensmeters incorporate a transformer.
• Focusable eyepiece: focusable aperture through which the mires are seen,
enabling the user to adjust the equipment for individual refractive errors before
use.
• Power wheel: a rotary wheel calibrated in diopters. Equipment may have the
powers engraved or displayed on the wheel or have the powers located inside
the equipment.
• Axis scale: a fixed or rotary semi-circle calibrated from 0 to 180°.
• Reticle: a black target inside the equipment that helps the user center the lens
and read cylindrical axes.
• Instrument table or lens stop aperture: where the user reads the lens if it is
placed with its back surface away from the user. The lens must make adequate
and proper contact with the table or aperture to avoid reading errors.[5]
• Lens holder: a spring-loaded device to hold the lens against or release it from the
lens stop aperture or instrument table.
• Lens height adjustment knob or lever: used to raise or lower the instrument table
to easily switch between measuring near and distant portions of a lens sample.
• Lens ink well or marker: pins set in temporary ink wells that can be lifted and
manipulated onto the lens to imprint 3 reference points; helpful in marking the
optical center after neutralization.
• Prism control system: this optional built-in accessory comprises a prism control
knob, axis scale, and power scale.

Automated or semi-automated lensmeters are different but comparable to manual lensmeters (see
Image. Semi-Automated Lensmeter). Automated or semi-automated lensmeters typically consist
of the following components:
 • Power switch: switches the equipment on and off.
• LCD screen: displays lens parameters.
• Lens-holding device: to hold the lens in place.
• Lens frame table: to rest the lens.
• Printer: may be built-in or a separate accessory.
• Lens marker lever and pins: to mark the lens.
• Nosepiece holder

Personnel

Any personnel trained and found to be proficient may perform lensometry.

Preparation

Before using the lensmeter, the measured lens must be clean and ready. Before measuring a lens,
it is possible to determine whether it is single-vision or multifocal and if any tints or
photochromic coatings are present. Lensometry can be used to measure powers in both naturally
occurring lens materials, like CR-39 (Columbia resin, #39), and synthetic lenses, like
polycarbonates.[6][7]

The lensmeter must be calibrated and prepared before measuring a lens to ensure accurate
reading. Calibration and preparation require the following steps:

1. To calibrate the lensmeter and adjust the instrument for the refractive error of the
user, the user must look into the eyepiece towards the reticle. The reticle is a
black target inside the equipment that includes a protractor for determining the
axes of the cylinder. The dials must be adjusted to 0 and the light source properly
aligned. Rotate the eyepiece counterclockwise until the reticle goes out of focus,
then rotate it clockwise until the reticle comes into its sharpest view. Placing a
white piece of paper on the instrument table may facilitate visualizing the reticle.
2. Switch the equipment on and rotate the power wheel to the 0 value. The
illuminated mires should be sharpest at this point when viewed inside the
lensometer. If the mires are not sharp, adjust the power slowly in both directions
until the mires are sharpest. This new nonzero power is recorded as the
instrument error. The user may either send this information and the equipment
for calibration or choose to work with the instrument error. Working with the
instrument error requires subtracting the value from the spherical power of the
final prescription of every lens measured using that particular piece of equipment.

Technique or Treatment

Measurement of Spherical Power

Measuring the spherical power of a lens or lenses with a manual lensmeter requires execution of
the following steps after the equipment has been calibrated and prepared:
 1. Place the lens on the stage of the lensmeter with the convex side facing upward.
2. Align the lens by positioning the target in front of the lens and centering the target
in the viewfinder.
3. Measure the lens by adjusting the 2 dials corresponding to the sphere and
cylinder to focus on the target and measuring the refractive power of the lens in
diopters.
4. If the patient has a prescription for two lenses, repeat the above steps for the
other lens.
5. Verify the lensometry results against the known prescription, making adjustments
to ensure the accuracy of the corrective lenses.
6. Compensate for any spherical and cylindrical instrument error to arrive at the
final back vertex power of the analyzed lens.

Measurement of Cylindrical Power

Cylindrical lenses contain 2 distinct powers, and only half of the mires will become sharp at each
major meridian during routine lensometry.[8] It is customary to neutralize one meridian first,
turn the measurement axis 90°, and measure the other meridian. This is a cross-cylinder
prescription, and combining the two measured meridians is transposition. The first step of
transposition is to take the maximum plus-powered spherical power; this will be the sphere. The
second step is to calculate the dioptric difference between the two powers obtained and denote it
as the minus cylindrical value. The axis of the resultant prescription is the power not chosen
initially as the sphere. For example,

• To transpose a finding of + 1.00 DC x 90 and +1.50 DC x 180, select the

maximum plus-powered cylinder (+1.50 DS) as the sphere. Take the dioptric
difference as the minus cylinder (+1.50 - (+1.00) DC = -0.50 DC). The axis of the
cylinder is the axis of the +1.00 DS not chosen as the sphere (90). The final
prescription is +1.50 DS - 0.50 DC x 90.

To compensate for a cylindrical error, note the cylindrical value that is the null point of the
equipment. If the null values of the equipment are 15º and 195º, the lower value must be
subtracted from any eventual axis read. For example,

• If the lowest null value is 15º, and the measurement yields a finding of -0.75 DS -
0.50 DC x 145, the final prescription will be -0.75 DS - 0.50 DC x 130.

Measurements of Multifocal or Varifocal Lenses

A multifocal lens prescription consists of a distance correction and at least one reading or
intermediate addition ground into the same lens.[9] The equivalent near correction is the dioptric
addition of the distance correction and the reading addition. When measuring a multifocal lens,
first measure the powers in the distance portion and then the powers of the near portion. The
reading addition is obtained by subtracting the spherical power in the distance portion from the
spherical power in the near portion. The equivalent near and distance powers can be estimated
from partial prescriptions. The reading add is almost always a spherical power added to the lower
portion of the lens. The amount of reading power is permanently engraved into the lens material
at the point of production.

Varifocal lenses have markings that may be permanently engraved into the lenses or ink-based
and temporary.[10] If these guide markings are not present, lensometry remains useful and can
still be performed.[11] Horizontal alignment markers remain even when temporary markings
have been removed, and permit proper alignment of the lenses during glazing. The equivalent
distance power will be located precisely in the middle of the horizontal alignment markers in
each varifocal lens. The horizontal markers may be connected using temporary ink to find the
midpoint and measure the distance power.

Prismatic Effects

Errors in measurement, such as decentration, can induce prismatic effects.[4] While prismatic
effects may be desirable when managing binocular vision anomalies, they may be a nuisance and
can be a source of significant asthenopia.[12] The total amount of induced prism is obtained
from the formula:

P = D x C,

where P = prismatic value, D = dioptric power of the lens, and C = the amount of decentration in
centimeters.

Complications

There are no known complications of lensometry.

Clinical Significance

The recent advent of tunable lenses has fueled research into dynamic focimetry to measure
changes in powers in real-time with little or no human input.[13][14] Garcia-Domene et al also
described a novel focimeter for measuring the power of an intra-ocular lens in situ.[15]

Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

The lensmeter measures the power and characteristics of ophthalmic lenses used to correct
refractive errors of binocular vision. Spectacle and contact lens corrections remain commonplace
despite the availability of corrective refractive surgical procedures such as laser-assisted in situ
keratomileusis (LASIK), laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK), and photorefractive
keratectomy (PRK).[16][17] Refractive errors are the most common reason patients seek ocular
care.[18]

Lensometry confirms prescription powers before dispensing and neutralizes the powers of
unknown lenses.[19] All ocular care providers must have a lensmeter, and staff must be
appropriately trained in its use. The lensmeter is used in the assembly and confirmation of lens
prescriptions to ensure the best-corrected vision for the patient.
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Description:

Manual Lensmeter

Attributed To:

Contributed by Mutali Musa, OD, MSc, FNCO

 Description:

Semi-Automated Lensmeter

Attributed To:

Contributed by Mutali Musa, OD, MSc, FNCO

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