Optical Analysis by Darryl Meister

**Darryl Meister** · 12-01-2005, 11:56 PM

Sometime ago, I started converting an old Excel tool of mine -- "OpticsLite," still available through OptiBoard -- into a Visual Basic application. During a recent vacation, I managed to finish the first "module" on ray tracing and lens analysis. (Details of the actual ray tracing sequence can be found in Jalie's Principles of Ophthalmic Lenses.) I am making this initial module available now, since it may be awhile before I have enough spare time to finish the next one. Note that this is only a beta version.

Just a few usage notes:
1) Move the red reference line to determine the off-axis performance at a given point.
2) You can manually input variables by clicking the "Input" button.
3) If the surface curves are too steep for a given blank size, the blank diameter is reduced in size automatically in order to compensate for this.
4) The graph shows the tangential (red) and sagittal (green) power errors.

optical_analysis.zip

**Rob of barking** · 12-05-2005, 11:22 AM

Darryl,

Thanks very much have down loaded

Rob

**Darryl Meister** · 12-09-2005, 02:15 PM

A screenshot from the program:

**OPTIDONN** · 12-09-2005, 03:45 PM

Why can't I get these programs to work?!? I wish I wasn't such a computer idiot:hammer:

**Darryl Meister** · 12-09-2005, 04:16 PM

Why can't I get these programs to work?!?

What sort of problems are you having? (And keep in mind that these are Windows-based.) Also, I have zipped the program (in order to keep virus protection software from panicking.) You can download a free version of WinZip, if you don't already have it (though everyone really should), at WinZip.com.

These VB programs require certain DLL files (bits of code shared by Windows programs to do common tasks) to run properly. Newer Microsoft operating systems (2000, XP, etc.) already come with all of the DLL files that this particular program uses, so I haven't created a full-blown installation package for it -- which would automatically install any missing DLL files. So if you can actually open and run the program, but get some sort of error about missing files, I can look at creating an installation package for you.

**OPTIDONN** · 12-11-2005, 06:20 PM

YEAH I GOT IT!!! This is awsome!!!! I'm kinda slow with computers so its takes me a while but this is COOL!

**redsoxfanfewany** · 12-12-2005, 07:14 PM

I heard some pretty wonderful things about you; I didn't realize how talented you really were.

**Darryl Meister** · 12-13-2005, 04:31 AM

Originally Posted by RedSox

I didn't realize how talented you really were.

Well, I certainly appreciate the kind words and hope you have a bit of fun playing around with the program.

**Bezza** · 01-20-2006, 11:00 AM

Wow.....I have been looking for something like this for ages and my own attempts to make similar tools were...well lets just say... i better stick to dispensing instead.
Great work Darryl, hope theres more :)

**jherman** · 10-10-2006, 10:10 AM

:d

**Bobie** · 12-10-2006, 12:35 AM

Thank you for great software , Darryl.
It is very useful for training my student to understand about the lenses. :)

**feornot** · 02-20-2007, 09:14 PM

Very, very nice@! Congratulations!

**rdcoach5** · 04-01-2007, 11:23 AM

Sweet! This will be useful.
Bob Taylor

**copland** · 04-19-2007, 02:27 AM

Thanks a lot,
Just visited here, I've got so useful software.

**wasan** · 05-22-2007, 10:19 PM

Thank you

**HarryChiling** · 12-10-2010, 02:51 PM

Darryl,

Everytime I fire up this software I can't help but to wonder if you have thought about making it compatible with external plugins to allow other programmers to expand on it's usefulness? I would love to add a few modules to it.

**Darryl Meister** · 12-11-2010, 12:41 AM

Unfortunately, I have a lot of other stuff on my to-do list for the foreseeable future... But what did you have in mind?

Best regards,
Darryl

**HarryChiling** · 12-11-2010, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Darryl Meister

Unfortunately, I have a lot of other stuff on my to-do list for the foreseeable future... But what did you have in mind?

Best regards,
Darryl

If the initial part of the program referenced an XML file to pull the location of each module and it's logo then additional modules can be added by third partys.

**eyeboy** · 09-24-2013, 11:03 AM

Hi,
The link takes me to Darryl's Opticampus site but then reports 'page does not exist' can you help?

Thanks

**Darryl Meister** · 12-11-2010, 01:49 PM

The program was written in Visual Basic 6 using forms. There is no XML involved. Each form is called from the main program, which also does some minor housekeeping (setting the size of each form, unloading forms when closing the progam, etcetera). The "logos" are just images on the main form. Each form can work as a self-contained program though, with some minor modifications.

What sort of new modules did you have in mind though?

Best regards,
Darryl

**HarryChiling** · 12-12-2010, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by Darryl Meister

The program was written in Visual Basic 6 using forms. There is no XML involved. Each form is called from the main program, which also does some minor housekeeping (setting the size of each form, unloading forms when closing the progam, etcetera). The "logos" are just images on the main form. Each form can work as a self-contained program though, with some minor modifications.

What sort of new modules did you have in mind though?

Best regards,
Darryl

Contact Lens Modules
Demo Modules (AR, Polar, etc.)

I can probably think of a ton of little apps that I would like to add to your program.

**rdcoach5** · 01-16-2014, 10:58 AM

Try http://www.opticampus.com/

**Darryl Meister** · 01-16-2014, 12:53 PM

I no longer make my old Optical Analysis program available, because I have replaced it with the much more useful Spectacle Optics program, which you can also download for free.

Best regards,
Darryl