Day 5.1 - Lensometer

Lensometer

About the Lensometer:

The Lensometer is used to read the prescription from glasses. If a patient has glasses in their possession, we need to borrow the glasses to read the prescription. If the patient has a history with us, ask if the glasses they have with them were made from the prescription they received when they were last here. If so, we can use our records of their prescription, and we don’t have to read them.

Having their current prescription enables us to check a person’s Visual Acuity, based upon the prescription that they are currently using. It is important for the doctor to compare a person’s past prescription with his or her current prescription. This comparison may actually help to identify conditions such as degeneration (negative change over time).

The Lensometer is found near the front desk. It may run on batteries, so you must turn it on and off each time you use the machine. When taking the measurements, write the results on a sticky note, until you can enter it into the computer. It should look like this:

+2.00 -0.50 x085

+2.50 -0.75 x079

                     +2.75

All numbers must be written with three digits (ex. -0.50)

If the first number is a 0 write PL (plano) in its place. If both the large and small lines are in focus at the same time, write DS (dioptic sphere) for the second number, this requires no axis (3rd number). The last number, to the lower right, is the add power, or the strength of the bi-focal.