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Diopter converter

Convert lens power between diopters and focal length. A +2 reading lens focuses at half a meter.

500mm

That's about the same as reading glasses. That brings light to a focus about 500 mm away.

What it means

How strong is that lens?

Prescriptions carry a cylinder and an axis as well, for astigmatism. This page converts the sphere, which is the main number.

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Your lens in every unit

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Background

About diopters

A diopter is one divided by the focal length in meters, so a +2 D lens focuses parallel light 500 mm away and a +4 D lens at 250 mm.

The reason optics uses it rather than focal length is that diopters add: put a +2 in front of a +3 and you have a +5. Focal lengths would need a formula.