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Ahmed Mohammed Vertex distance كلية التقنيات الصحية والطبية
MSc Optometrist lecture 5 course 2 قسم البصريات
VERTEX DISTANCE
• Vertex distance is the distance between the back surface of a corrective lens,ie
spectacle or contact lens, and front to the cornea. Increasing or decreasing the
vertex distance changes the power of the lens relative to the eye
• Vertex distance is important when converting between contact lens and glasses
prescription and become significant if the glass prescriptions is beyond +/- 4.00D
• Standard vertex distance is about 12mm
LENS EFFECTIVITY
• Lens optical effect may vary with vertex distance
• Vertex distance responsible for decrease of vision
• If move away from eye
* + lens becomes stronger
* - lens becomes weaker
VD CHANGES AND THE EFFECT IN ‘+’LENS
• Increasing the vertex distance of plus lens will increase the effective power of
the lens
• deceasing the vertex distance of plus lens will decrease the effective power of
the lens
VD CHANGES AND THE EFFECT IN MINUS” –“LENS
• Increasing the vertex distance of a minus lens will decrease the effective power
of the lens
• Decreasing the vertex distance of a minus lens will be increasing the effective
power of the lens
In case of minus lens become weaker while it moving from the eye and become
stronger while it moving closure to the eye
* Magnification and minification can affected significantly by the VD
* Greater the VD, greater the degree of magnification and minification
*Image size changes are minimized when VD is zero
SIGNIFICANCE OF VERTEX DISTANCE
• In prescription must have the same effective power as the refractive test
• The vertex distance of the phoropter/ trial frame must match the vertex
distance of the spectacle lenses
• A vertex distance become significant if the diopter power of the prescription
exceed 4.00D
VERTEX COMPENSATION POWER
A spectacle is placed a t 20mm away from the eye instead of 12mm, so
what is the actual prescription?
To determine this, we need to use the vertex compensation formula:
Dc=DI/ 1-(d x DI)
DC= Compensated Power
DI= Original Lens Power
d= Change in Vertex Distance in Meter
A spectacle power of -5.00 D Sph 6mm further from the eye than it should, then
Dc=DI/ 1- (d x DI)
DI=- 5.00
DC= -5.00/1-(0.006 x -5.00)
DC=-5.00/1-(-0,03)
-5.00/1.03 = 4.85
The best sphere is - 4.85
If the distance 20 mm it will be
20/1000 = 0,02 DC=-5.00/1-(0,02*- 5.00) =5/1+0,1
DC=-5.00/1,1 = -4.54 - 4.50
VERTEX COMPENSATION FORMULA
The formula for the needed compensation per mm. of displacement, per
diopter of lens power, is as follows:
= D x D / 1000
* The answer is multiplied by the mm of displacement. The result is added
or subtracted from the diopter power according to the following set of
conditions:
1) + lens moving closer - add to increase the diopter power
2) + lens moving farther away - subtract to reduce the diopter power
3) - lens moving closer - subtract to reduce the diopter power
4) - lens moving farther away - add to increase the diopter power
• For +12.00D the movement is 4mm closer to the patient
D×D/1000
12×12/1000
144/1000=0.14
4×0.14=0.48(0.50 approx)
0.50 is added to +12.00
• Note:
if the prescription has a significant cylinder power(at least)we must perform the
calculation for the primary meridian of the power
HOW TO MEASURE VD?
* To determine VD use Distometer.
* Distometer
- places one arm on the eye lid while the other is placed on the back of the lens
- a small scale attached to the device measures the distance
To MEASURING VERTEX DISTANCE BY THE RULER
Using a mm ruler, measure from the back of the lens to the cornea
Or
If you can’t see the back of the lens, measure from the front of the lens to the
front of the cornea (then subtract lens thickness)
WHAT IS VERTEX DISTANCE(BVD)TYPICALLY USED FOR
GLASSES PRESCRIPTION?
• The vertex distance is depend on the frame and how it site on your nose and
face. The lens prescription is often derived or assumed to be 13.5mm when
frames are chosen ,the vertex distance of the chosen frame doesn’t have to equal
13.5mm for low powered lenses. At the higher power the power seen by the eye
will be different than the written prescription
VERTEX DISTANCE
• The power of a lens is the reciprocal of the focal length,the relative or effective
power of a corrective lens changes with the placement of the lens or the distance
between the lens and the eye. The relationship is expressed by the formula
D=1/f
Where D=power in diopter, f=focal length in meters
Examples: in the f=focal length is 10cm(0.1m)
D=1/0.1 D=10
EFFECTIVE POWER
The effective power of a corrective lens varies with the vertex distance and the
formula
is Fe=F/1-(dF)
d=distance in meter
if the power of the required spectacle is known,the power of CL required to
correct the same eye can be determined by means of the effective power formula
Correction for vertex distance
Fcl=Fsp/(1-dFsp),d is the distance from back vertex of spectacle lens to corneal
apex start from 4.ooD
COMMON FRAME ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS – VERTEX
DISTANCE
• Increasing the vertex-bend both end pieces in
• Decreasing the vertex-bend both end pieces out
increasing the vertex distance effectively raise multifocal height and vise versa
CHANGING HEIGHT OR VERTEX DISTANCE
*Move pad arms up will raise height of frame
* Move pad arms down will lower height of frame
HOW DO YOU REDUCE VERTEX DISTANCE?
• Increasing or decreasing the vertex distance changes the optically properties of
the system, by moving the focal point forward or backward, effectively changing
the power of the lens relative to the eye
EXAMPLES
Refraction shows that an aphakia patient require a+10 at BVD 15mm. He need a
contact lens(F2)
F2=F1/1-dF1
Required power of contact lens=F2=+10/-0.015×10 =+1.0/1-0.15 =
+10/0.85=+11.75D
Likewise a high myopia whose spectacle correction is -10.00D at BVD 14mm
require a contact lens (f2) F2=f1/1-df1
Power of contact lens=f2=-10/1-[+0.014+(-10)] =-10/1- (-0.14) =-10/1.14=-8.75D
Power Specification
Nominal Power
Equivalent Power
Front Vertex power
Back Vertex Power
Effective Power
Nominal Power p=p1+p2
P=LENS POWER P1= Front Vertex power p2= Back Vertex Power
EQUIVALENT POWER
• Also called True power
• Used to specify low vision device
FRONT VERTEX POWER
• Also called neutralizing power
• Parallel light coming from the right(opposite direction of normal)is focused to
the primary focal point by the front vertex power
• Power found with hand neutralization
BACK VERTEX POWER
• Parallel light entering the lens from the left (normal direction)is focused to the
secondary focal point by the back vertex power
• Power specified at back vertex (back surface)of the lens
• Ophthalmic prescriptions are specified using back vertex power(spectacle,
contact lens)
Effective Power
The Effective Power of the lens is the
refractive behavior of the lens when moved
to a different distance
