Optical Math Made Easy!
I. Transposition
1. Change the axis by 90 degrees
2. Change the sign of the cylinder
3. Combine the sphere with the cylinder
EXAMPLE HELPFUL HINTS
Rx: -1.00 +2.00 x 180
Think about the numbers
1. Change the axis by 90 degrees as if the first one is the
180-90 =90 balance in your checkbook
2. Change the sign of the cylinder and the second one is
+2.00 becomes -2.00 either a deposit (+) or a
3. Combine the sphere with the cylinder debit (-)
-1.00 combined with +2.00 = +1.00
Transposed Rx: +1.00 -2.00 x 090
PRACTICE
1. Rx: +2.50 +1.25 x 060
2. Rx: -1.00 +1.75 x 080
II. Spherical Equivalent
1. Combine ½ of the cylinder power to the sphere
2. Drop the axis
EXAMPLE PRACTICE
Rx: -1.00 +1.00 x 180 Rx: +2.00 -0.50 x 090
1. Combine ½ of the cylinder power to the
sphere
(+1.00 / 2) =+0.50 Combined with -1.00 = -0.50
2. Drop the axis
Spherical equivalent is: -0.50 sphere
III. Reading Prescription
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Optical Math Made Easy!
1. Combine the add power with the sphere power. The cylinder and the
axis stay the same.
EXAMPLE PRACTICE
Rx: -1.00 +1.00 x 180 Add +1.25 What is the reading glasses
1. Combine the add power with the sphere prescription for the
power. The cylinder and the axis stay the following?
same. +1.00-1.25 x 180
-1.00 (sphere power) combined with +1.25 -1.00 x 175
+1.25 (add) =+0.25 Add +2.00
Reading Rx: +0.25 +1.00 x 180
IV. Meters to Feet/Feet to Meters
1. Meters to Feet 2. Feet to Meters
1 m = 3.28 ft. Just do the opposite
Divide denominator by 3 Multiply denominator by 3
6/6 (6/3=2) so 6/6=20/20 20/20 (2x3=6) so 20/20=6/6
6/9 (9/3=3) so 6/9=20/30 20/30 (3x3=9) so 20/30=6/9
PRACTICE
Feet Meters
20/80 = ______
_____ = 6/12
V. Converting Focal Length into Diopters
Formula: D=1/F
D=power of lens in diopters F=focal length in meters
EXAMPLES PRACTICE
Lens with focal length of 1 m = 1/1 = 1.00 D What is the dioptric power
Lens with focal length of 2 m= 1/2 = 0.50 D of a lens with a focal
Lens with focal length of 4 m= 1/4 = 0.25 D length of .5 m?
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Optical Math Made Easy!
VI. The Optical Cross
– A spherical lens has one power.
– A spherocylindrical lens has one spherical and one cylindrical
surface, giving it 2 radii of curve (unequal power).
– An optical cross is used to illustrate the powers of a
spherocylindrical lens.
– Remember: The power of the cylinder is found 90 degrees away
from the placement of the axis.
+3.00 +1.00 +4.00
4.00
+3.00 0 +3.00
Rx: +3.00 +1.00 x 180
-4.00 0 -4.00
-4.00 +1.00 -3.00
Rx: -4.00 +1.00 x 090
PRACTICE
-1.00 +1.00
-1.00
0
Rx:
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Optical Math Made Easy!
VII. Prentice’s Rule
– If the patient is not looking through the optical center of a lens that
has power, they are looking through prism
– Prism = Power x Decentration in cm
Prism = lens power (in diopters) multiplied by D in cm
(Where D = amount the patient PD varies from the major
reference point in cm)
– Plus lens-decentration shifts with the lens
Lens decentered out/induced prism is BO
– Minus lens-decentration shifts opposite from the lens
Lens decentered out/induced prism is BI
EXAMPLE PRACTICE
Rx: OD: +11.00 Sph
-4.00 (power) x .5cm (decentration OS: +12.00 Sph
in cm) = 2 prism diopters The optical centers are both
displaced 4 mm temporally (out)
How much decentration?
VIII. Low Vision Calculations
– To find the dioptric power of a magnifier, multiply the X power
by 4.
EXAMPLE
A magnifier that is 10x would be 40
diopters (10 x 4 = 40)
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Optical Math Made Easy!
– To figure the distance that a magnifier should be held from the
page to get the clearest image:
Convert the diopters to X by dividing by 4
Divide this number into 1
EXAMPLE PRACTICE
Where should a 20 D magnifier be Where should a 2x magnifier be held
held for clearest vision? to achieve the clearest vision?
20/4 = 5 x
10/5 = 2 inches What is the dioptric power of a 2x
magnifier?
IX. Test Height Calculations
– The 20/400 E should be 88 mm in height if patient is 20 feet
away.
– What if patient is 17 feet away?
EXAMPLE PRACTICE
20 ft 17 ft What if the patient is 15 feet away?
88 mm X mm
<Cross multiply>
88 times 17 equals 1496
<Divide each side by 20>
X equals 74.8
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