Frame measurements are essential for ordering prescription glasses correctly. The boxing system uses geometric center, lens size (eye size A), depth (B), and width (C) in millimeters. Distance between lenses (DBL) and geometric center distance (GCD) are also in millimeters. Temple length is overall length from center barrel to end. Frames are marked with eye size, DBL, temple length, manufacturer, and country of origin. Safety frames are marked with "Z87". Metal frames indicate gold content in karats.

1. FRAME
MEASUREMENTS
AND MARKINGS
OPTOM FASLU MUHAMMED

2.  Familiarity with frame measurements and
how they are marked is essential to proper
ordering of prescription glasses.

3. DATUM SYSTEM

4. THE OLDER DATUM SYSTEM
 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.

5.  The depth of the lens measured as the vertical
depth through the datum center, was the mid-
datum depth.
 The datum system preceded the currently used
boxing

6. THE BOXING SYSTEM

7. THE BOXING SYSTEM
 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.
 This term does not imply anything about the
optical positioning of the lens

8. Size
 The size of the lens then 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. Both are measured in millimeters.

9.  They are referring primarily to the horizontal
measure of the lens, denoted by the letter
“A”.
 The letter “B” denotes the vertical measure of
the box enclosing the lens.
 The letter “C” refers to the width of the lens
itself along the horizontal midline.

10. Horizontal measure of the lens

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Frame Difference

14. 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.
 This distance is measured in millimeters.

15. DBL

16. Geometric Center Distance (GCD)
 The distance between the two geometric
centers of the lenses is known as the
geometric center distance (GCD).
 Or the geometric center distance can be
calculated by simply adding the eye size to
the DBL.The result is the same.

17.  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.

18. Seg Height
 When specifying bifocal or trifocal segment
height, the reference points are given in
millimeters as either
(l) The distance below or above the
horizontal midline (called seg drop or seg
raise)
(2) the distance from the lower line of the
boxing system rectangle enclosing the lens
shape (called seg height).

19. TEMPLE LENGTH
 Most temples are currently marked with the
total, or overall, temple length. Temple
lengths are expressed in millimeters.

20. 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.

21. Length to Bend (LTB)
 An older method of measuring temple length
is in terms of the 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

22. Front to Bend (FTB)
 In this case the temple length could be
specified as frame to bend (FTB) which
would be slightly longer than LTB.
 This measurement method is seldom used

23. FRAME MARKINGS
 Most frames are marked according to size
with three measurements: eye size, DBL,
and temple length.
 Metal frames that are manufactured from
“rolled gold” are also marked as to the
amount of gold found in the frame.

24. Eye Size and DBL
 When a frame marking such as 50 □20 is
seen, it means that the eye size is 50 mm
and the distance between lenses is 20 mm.
 The box - the eye size is measured
according to the boxing method.
 The eye size and DBL are sometimes simply
marked 50-20 or 50/20.

26. How to measure…….

27. Location of Markings
plastic frame
 Printed on the inside of the nose pad, or on
the upper outer section of the eye wire.
 Back side of the end piece, and the temple
must be folded closed to find it.
 On one end piece and the DBL on the other.

28. Metal frames
Eye size and DBL are usually on the inside of
the bridge or on the temples.

29. Frame Manufacturer Name, Color, and
Country of Origin
 Frames should also be marked as to country
of origin, manufacturer, and frame name.
Many frame manufacturers use a number
rather than a name.
 Consulting a frame reference catalog or
database will help.

30. Safety Frame Markings
 Frames that are suitable for use as safety
glasses must have “Z87” or “Z87-2” and the
name or logo of the manufacturer stamped
on the frame front and on both temples.

31. Gold Classifications for Metal Frames
With Substantial Gold Content
 Metal frames may not have any gold or any
significant amount of gold in the frame.
 Gold or part-gold articles can be classified as
fine gold, solid gold, gold filled, or having gold
plating or gold flashing.
 The karat system is used to determine the
amount of gold present