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Lens Power & Diopter Basics

The document discusses formulas for calculating lens power. It defines the diopter as the unit of measure for lens power, which is equal to the reciprocal of the focal length in meters. It presents the lensmaker's equation for calculating total lens power based on the front and back surface powers. The effective power formula adds a thickness compensation term to the lensmaker's equation for thicker lenses where thickness becomes a factor.

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Himanshu Sethi
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875 views1 page

Lens Power & Diopter Basics

The document discusses formulas for calculating lens power. It defines the diopter as the unit of measure for lens power, which is equal to the reciprocal of the focal length in meters. It presents the lensmaker's equation for calculating total lens power based on the front and back surface powers. The effective power formula adds a thickness compensation term to the lensmaker's equation for thicker lenses where thickness becomes a factor.

Uploaded by

Himanshu Sethi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

LENS POWER FORMULA

The diopter is the unit of measure for the refractive power of a lens. The power of a lens is defined as the reciprocal
of its focal length in meters, or D = 1/f, where D is the power in diopters and f is the focal length in meters.

• A lens with a focal length of two meters has a power of one-half diopter because the reciprocal
of two is one-half or D = 1/2f
UNIVERSAL
PHOTONICS • A focal length of one-tenth meter would result in a power of 10 diopters
INCO RPO R AT E D

Disregarding thickness, the power of a lens is determined by combining the powers of the front and back surfaces:
Dn = D1 + D2

• A lens with a front surface power of +9.00 and a back surface power of 6.00 would have a
power of +3.00

Lens surface power can be found with the index of refraction and radius of curvature. The formula for surface
power is Ds = (u-1)/r, where u is the index of refraction and r the radius of curvature in meters.

LENSMAKER’S EQUATION

The original formula for lens power can be written substituting (u-1)/r1 for D1 and (u-1)/r2 for D2 to arrive
at Dn = (u-1)/r1 + (u-1)/r2, aka the Lensmaker’s Equation.

EFFECTIVE POWER FORMULA

As long as thickness is not a factor, The Lensmaker’s Equation can be used effectively. In the range of four diopters
thickness may become a factor and compensation must be made. This is accomplished by adding t/u (D1)2 to the
original formula as shown: De = D1+ D2 + t/u (D1)2 where D1 is the front surface power, D2 is the back surface
power, t is the center thickness in meters, and u is the refractive index. This is known as the Effective Power Formula.

FORMULAS

DIOPTER D = 1/f

Ds = u-1
SURFACE POWER
r1
Dn = u-1 + u-1
LENSMAKER’S EQUATION
r1 r2

NOMINAL POWER Dn = D1 + D2

De = D1 + D2 + t (D1)2
EFFECTIVE POWER
u

Advanced Surfacing Products & Technology • T: 800.645.7173 T: 516.935.4000 info@[Link]

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