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Understanding the Boxing System in Optometry

The document outlines the boxing system for measuring lenses, which enhances the previous datum system by incorporating both horizontal and vertical reference lines to create a box around the lens. Key dimensions defined include A (horizontal boxing width), B (vertical boxing length), and C (width of the lens along the midline), with additional details on measurement techniques and terms like geometric center distance and segment height. The boxing system aims to ensure consistent placement of lens optical centers and segment heights for improved lens fitting.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
491 views8 pages

Understanding the Boxing System in Optometry

The document outlines the boxing system for measuring lenses, which enhances the previous datum system by incorporating both horizontal and vertical reference lines to create a box around the lens. Key dimensions defined include A (horizontal boxing width), B (vertical boxing length), and C (width of the lens along the midline), with additional details on measurement techniques and terms like geometric center distance and segment height. The boxing system aims to ensure consistent placement of lens optical centers and segment heights for improved lens fitting.
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

Prepared by object ‫جامعة المستقبل‬

Ahmed Mohammed boxing system ‫كلية التقنيات الصحية والطبية‬


MSc Optometrist lecture 6 course 2 ‫قسم البصريات‬

BOXING SYSTEM
*The previously used datum system for measuring lenses was
established as a system of reference points for frames and lenses so
that placement of lens optical centers and bifocal segment heights
would be consistent.
* With the lens placed as it should sit in the frame, horizontal lines
were drawn at the highest and lowest edges of the lens.
* A line drawn halfway between the two horizontal lines and parallel to
them was known as the datum line.
* The width of the lens along this line was called the datum length or
eye size.
* The point along the datum line halfway between the edges of the lens
is the datum center.
* The depth of the lens, measured as the vertical depth through the
datum center, was the mid-datum depth.
THE BOXING SYSTEM :
The boxing system improved on the foundation provided by the datum system.
*The datum system used two horizontal lines; one against the top and the other
against the bottom of the lens.
* The boxing system kept these two horizontal lines and added two vertical lines.
* These vertical lines are placed against right and left edges of the lens.
*All four lines form a box around the lens.
In the boxing system, the A dimension is the horizontal boxing width.
* If the frame is properly marked, the eye size will be equal to the A dimension of
the frame.
*The B dimension is the vertical boxing length.
* The C dimension is the width of the lens along the horizontal midline.
*The C dimension should not be confused with the “C-size” of a lens. The C-size of
a lens is the distance around the lens (i.e., its circumference).
*The dispenser uses the C-size to ensure that a lens ordered by itself (without the
frame) will be exactly sized for that frame.
Horizontal Midline
* There is a horizontal line halfway between the top and bottom of the lens.
* In the datum system, this was called the datum line.
* But, in the boxing system, this line is more commonly referred to as the
horizontal midline or the 180- degree line.

Geometric Center
* The center of the lens is the point on the horizontal midline halfway between
the two lens-bordering vertical lines.
* It is known as the geometric center or boxing center of the edged lens.

Size
*The size of the lens is the length and depth of the box containing the lens.
* The horizontal length is now commonly referred to as the eye size when
referring to the frame and the lens size when referring to the lenses.
* It is denoted by the letter ‘A’. Both are measured in millimeters
*The letter “B” denotes the vertical measure of the box enclosing the lens.
*Both “A” and “B” are in a sense independent of lens shape.
*The letter “C” refers to the width of the lens itself along the horizontal midline.
*In the older datum system, this was the eye size of the frame.
Measurement
* To measure the horizontal dimension of a frame, the measurement begins at
the inside of the groove on one side and extends across the lens opening to the
farthest part of the groove on the other.
*We cannot see the inside of the groove when looking from the front. This means
we can estimate where it will be and hold the ruler so that the zero point is at the
position of the left-hand side of the groove. Do not filt the box.
* Then we need to read the ruler at the position where the groove will be on the
right.
* If the opening itself is measured, then about ½ mm per side needs to be added
to the measure to allow for the depth of the groove. This may vary somewhat,
depending upon the depth of the groove.
Effective Diameter
*The effective diameter of a lens is found by doubling the distance from the
geometric center of the lens to the apex of the lens bevel farthest from it.

Frame Difference
* The difference between the horizontal and the vertical measurements is known
as the frame difference and is measured in millimeters.
* Frame difference is sometimes referred to as lens difference

Distance Between Lenses (DBL) or Bridge Size


* The DBL is the distance between the two boxes when both lenses are boxed off
in the frame.
* Bridge size or DBL is measured on the frame as the distance from the inside
nasal eyewire grooves across the bridge area at the narrowest point. This distance
is measured in millimeters.
* Naturally, two frames having the same DBL will not necessarily fit the same
person in the same manner because of variations in lens shapes.
Geometric Center Distance (GCD)
*The distance between the two geometric centers of the lenses is known as the
geometric center distance (GCD).
* It can also be calculated by simply adding the eye size to the DBL.
*The GCD is also known by three other names
1. Distance between centers (DBC)
2. Frame center distance
3. Frame PD
* The term frame PD is commonly used in dispensing, but has no relationship to
the wearer’s inter-pupillary distance or distance between pupil centers.

Seg Height
*When specifying bifocal or trifocal segment height, the reference points are
given in millimeters as either
(1) the distance below or above the horizontal midline (called seg drop or seg
raise), or
(2) the distance from the lower line of the boxing system rectangle enclosing the
lens shape (called seg height).
TEMPLE LENGTH
Overall Temple Length
* The overall temple length is the distance from the center of the center barrel
screw hole to the posterior end of the temple, measured along the center of the
temple
Length to Bend (LTB)
* This is measured from the center of the barrel to the middle of the bend. The
distance from the middle of the temple bend to the end of the temple is known as
the length of drop.
Front to Bend (FTB)
* If the endpieces wrap around in a swept-back manner, there is a distance
between the plane of the frame front and the actual beginning of the temple.

Common questions

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The A, B, and C dimensions in the boxing system are critical for precision in lens manufacturing. The 'A' dimension is the horizontal boxing width, commonly known as the eye size, which affects the visual field and aesthetic proportion of the frame. The 'B' dimension, or vertical boxing length, determines the vertical space available for the lens and impacts the overall height and visual coverage of the frame. The 'C' dimension, which measures the width of the lens along the horizontal midline, informs the lens circumference or 'C-size', crucial for fitting the lens to the frame when ordering lenses without frames. These precise measurements ensure that lenses are accurately manufactured to fit within frames and align with optical standards and user comfort .

Variations in DBL can significantly impact the comfort and visual effectiveness of eyeglasses. DBL, or bridge size, determines the distance between lens centers, thus affecting how frames rest on the nose. Incorrect DBL can lead to discomfort due to improper weight distribution across the bridge, causing pressure or slippage. Moreover, inappropriate DBL may misalign lenses with the wearer's pupils, potentially degrading visual effectiveness and increasing strain. Proper DBL ensures frames rest comfortably and lenses align correctly with the user's visual axis, crucial for both comfort and optimal optical performance .

Effective diameter, calculated by doubling the distance from the geometric center to the lens apex, defines the necessary lens size to fit different frame styles, influencing lens curvature and thickness. A larger effective diameter may require more material, affecting lens weight and optical properties such as distortion. DBL impacts frame selection as it dictates the frame bridge width, influencing fit and comfort across the nasal bridge. These two dimensions together help determine the compatibility between lenses and frames, ensuring practical design and aesthetic appeal. Optometrists use these measurements to recommend frame and lens combinations that provide optimal vision correction while maintaining comfort and style .

Seg height, seg drop, and seg raise are critical parameters in the construction of multifocal lenses, ensuring proper alignment of optical centers with the user's line of sight. Seg height measures the distance from the lower line of the boxing system to the bifocal or trifocal segment, ensuring the segment is placed at an optimal height for reading. Seg drop and seg raise describe the distance below or above the horizontal midline, respectively, which adjusts the segment positioning relative to the wearer’s line of sight. Correct application of these measurements ensures that the lenses perform effectively, enabling smooth transitions between different focal points, such as distance and reading zones .

Inside groove estimation and adding for groove depth are crucial for precision in lens fitting. When measuring the horizontal dimension of a frame, estimating the groove's inside position ensures accuracy, as the direct view is obstructed when looking from the front. Additional measures, like accounting for the depth of the groove (approximately 0.5 mm per side), are needed to achieve an exact fit of the lenses without overcutting. These precise adjustments ensure that lenses are properly seated within frames, preventing gaps and ensuring a secure and comfortable fit, which is essential for both functionality and aesthetics in eyewear .

Frame difference, the difference between horizontal (A) and vertical (B) measurements, plays a significant role in selecting a well-fitting frame. This metric aids in understanding the proportional dimensions of a frame, impacting both aesthetic appeal and wearer comfort. A large frame difference might indicate an elongated frame, which may suit certain face shapes better. Comfort-wise, frame difference affects how the frames sit on the face, influencing the weight distribution and pressure on the nasal area or cheeks. This knowledge is critical for optometrists in recommending frames that not only fit stylistically but also align functionally with the user's facial anatomy .

Adjusting the lens circumference, or 'C-size', ensures lenses fit precisely within specific frames, especially when lenses are ordered independently of frames. C-size is the total distance around the lens, which needs to match the frame's groove precisely to prevent structural issues or movement once fitted. By accurately measuring and adjusting C-size, dispensers ensure lenses are adequately sized and secure, enhancing both the function and longevity of spectacles. This process requires expertise in predicting how lenses will adapt to various frame geometries, underscoring the importance of detailed, precise measurement in optical dispensing .

The geometric center, located at the intersection of the horizontal midline and the midpoint between the vertical borders of the lens, helps establish the boxing center for an edged lens and ensures that the lenses are aligned symmetrically and visually appealing within the frame. The geometric center distance (GCD) aids in fitting the lenses by providing the distance between the geometric centers of both lenses in a frame. It is crucial for determining the alignment of lenses in relation to the wearer's facial features and ensuring the correct calculation of the bridge size or distance between lenses (DBL), which affects comfort and visual alignment .

The boxing system improved upon the datum system by adding two vertical lines to the existing horizontal lines used in the datum system. The datum system used horizontal lines against the top and bottom of the lens and defined a 'datum line' and 'datum center' for reference. The boxing system, while preserving the horizontal lines from the datum system, introduced vertical lines to encompass the lens fully, creating a 'box'. This enhancement allowed for more precise measurement and consistency in the placement of lens optical centers and bifocal segment heights, leading to improved alignment and fitting of lenses within frames .

Temple lengths, including overall temple length, length to bend (LTB), and front to bend (FTB), are pivotal in the customization and comfort of eyeglass frames. Overall temple length impacts fit and stability by dictating how far the temples extend behind the ears. LTB provides a precise measure for where the temple begins to curve behind the ear, ensuring a secure and comfortable grip. FTB measures the distance from the frame's front to the temple's bend, critical for frames with swept-back endpieces, allowing for adjustments that match the curve of the user's head. These metrics ensure that eyeglasses are not only secure but also comfortable for extended wear, adapting to individual head shapes and sizes .

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