length: 1:39 minutes

This video shows the use of a lensometer, a device used to check the prescription in glasses. This device can be tricky for the novice technician to use, as you must align the glasses well and move two dials at the same time to hone in on the prescription.

Here are the steps:

1. Place glasses on platform and secure
2. Turn axis and focus nobs so that the SMALL lines are straight and focused
Write down the number. This is your sphere.
3. Turn the focus nob until the fat lines become focused, and look at the new number on the focus nob. The DIFFERENCE from your prior sphere value is the CYLINDER value. If you changed from +1.00 to +4.00, then your cylinder is +3.00. If you changed from +1.00 to -1.50, then your cylinder is -2.50. In other words, the cylinder can be a positive or negative number, depending upon the direction you have to turn the focus nob.
4. Check the degrees on the axis dial. This is your cylinder axis.

If you want to check the bifocal add:

5. Move the glasses so that the bifocal segment is being read.
6. Turn the focus nob again until the fat lines again become focussed.
The amount of change needed to refocus the fat lines will give you your bifocal power.

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lensometer.wmv (13 meg, Windows video file)
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