Lensmeters (Lensometers)
Automatic and manual lensmeters for verifying lenses, marking optical centers and checking finished glasses.
Lensmeter, lensometer and focimeter are three names for the same instrument.
An auto lensmeter and a manual lensometer
Most shops use the automatic model day to day and keep a manual one as a backup.
HV-600
Auto lensmeter, 7" touch screen, UV and blue-light test.- Sphere
- 0 to ±25.00 D
- Screen
- 7" touch
- Transmittance
- UV 400 nm, blue 425 nm
- Weight
- 3.7 kg
CP-1B
Portable manual lensometer, 0 to ±25 D, prism to 20 Δ.- Range
- 0 to ±25 D
- Graduation
- 0.125 D to ±5 D
- Prism
- to 20 Δ with compensator
- Weight
- 4 kg
HV-600 and CP-1B compared
Blank cells: confirmed on your quotation.
| Specification | HV-600 (automatic) | CP-1B (manual) |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | Automatic, on screen | Manual, through the eyepiece |
| Sphere | 0 to ±25.00 D | 0 to ±25 D |
| Cylinder | 0 to ±10.00 D | Within the ±25 D range |
| Steps | 0.01 / 0.12 / 0.25 D | 0.125 D (to ±5 D), 0.25 D (±5 to ±25 D) |
| Axis | 0–180°, 1° steps | 0–180°, 1° steps |
| Add | 0–10.00 D | Read by difference (bifocal segment) |
| Prism | 0–10 Δ, x-y or polar | 0–5 Δ; 0–20 Δ with compensation device; base 0–180° |
| Lens diameter | 18–100 mm | Ø16–86 mm |
| Extras | UV and blue-light transmittance, PD and pupil height, lens topography, printer, RS232, Bluetooth | |
| Power | 110–240 V, 50–60 Hz | AC 220 V or 110 V, 3 W lamp |
| Dimensions | 235 × 192 × 436 mm | 275 × 120 × 430 mm |
| Weight | 3.7 kg | 4 kg |
What a lensmeter measures
Three checks on every job
A lensmeter reads the back vertex power of a spectacle lens (sphere, cylinder and axis), the add and any prism, and marks the optical center. In a shop it is used to verify incoming lenses, to mark the optical center before blocking, and to check the finished glasses against the prescription.
Manual or automatic
A manual lensometer shows a target through an eyepiece; the operator focuses it and reads the power wheel. An automatic lensmeter passes light through the lens onto a sensor and calculates the power, so the reading does not depend on the operator. Automatic models are faster and add extras such as transmittance and PD; manual models need skill but no electronics.
Before you buy
- Measuring ranges against your prescriptions.
- Display steps and prism notation.
- Printing and data output, if you keep records.
- Whether you will use transmittance, PD and topography.
- A backup plan: many shops keep a manual unit.
Guides
Background sources: Lensometry (StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf) · Lensometry handout (University of Utah, Moran CORE) · ANSI Z80.1 quick reference (The Vision Council)
Lensmeter questions
Lensmeter, lensometer or focimeter: what is the difference?
None. They are three names for the same instrument; “focimeter” is common in ISO standards and Europe, “lensometer” and “lensmeter” in North America and Asia.
Manual or automatic?
Both measure the same parameters. Automatic reduces operator variation and adds extras; manual needs a trained eye but no electronics. See our comparison guide.
Can a lensmeter check UV protection?
The HV-600 measures UV transmittance at 400 nm and blue-light transmittance at 425 nm. The manual CP-1B does not.
Can it read progressive lenses?
Yes. Read the distance power at the distance circle and use the engraved marks for the add.