Cleaning Anti-Reflection Coated Lenses, in phoroptors, 2017 Video Duration: 22 minutes Since about 2004, Reichert has made phoroptors with Anti-Reflection coating on the internal phoroptor lenses. Prior to that time, the phoroptors had glass lenses that were uncoated. I have found such anti-reflection coated lenses very difficult to clean, compared to uncoated glass lenses. The Anti-Reflection coating seems to have no advantage for refracting. However, it makes cleaning the lenses an especially frustrating endeavor. I recently came up with a method that saves me a lot of time, when cleaning anti-reflection coated lenses. I describe the method in this video. On an annual basis, I typically disassemble each phoroptor for internal lubrication and cleaning. While dismantled, I find it useful to take the 4 sphere lens wheels to a sink, and scrub them with hot, soapy water. Specifically, I use Dawn Dish soap to remove grease and oil from the lens frame and surfaces. Also important is to use an extremely delicate toothbrush for the scrubbing of the lenses. Typical toothbrushes have sharp edge bristles which can damage and scratch the fragile anti-reflection coating. Nimbus toothbrushes can be purchased on-line (Nimbusdental.com), and they have very soft bristles which are safe to use, when cleaning anti-reflection coated lenses. The artist brush I used to spread the grease mixture onto the bearing surfaces measures 13 mm long bristles by 7 mm wide. For the “towels” I use to wipe and dry off the sphere wheels, I wash them after use, and store them in a large ziplock bag so they stay dust free until I use them next. +++++++ YEAR of Phoroptor Manufacture and Serial Number format. Based on the serial number I can often tell the year of manufacturing. Most Reichert phoroptors have a serial number which ends with a dash followed by another number or numbers. The ending numbers change, based on year of manufacturing. Examples of year of manufacture, and typical serial numbers, for assorted Reichert minus cylinder phoroptors. 1988 . . . . . 11270-8 (note the “-8” for 1988) 1995 . . . . . 23098-5 1997 . . . . . 26099-07 (note the “-07” for 1997) 2001 . . . . . 36617-01 2006 . . . . . 47065-0406 (note that by 2006, the month was added - “April 2006”) 2013 . . . . . 58367-0813 (“August 2013”) 2015 . . . . . 59624-0215 (“Feb 2015”) Prior to 1988, phoroptors had a different pattern than any of these, typically beginning with a couple of letters, such as BE45326. The manufacture year was likely prior to 1988, when I first noticed the “-8” ending to have been used. Additionally, the shape and format of the serial number PLATE changed in various years, to be different than prior years. The phoroptor shown in this video (57409-0706) was probably manufactured in July 2006 (note the “-0706” at the end of the serial number). +++++++ Optical Maintenance videos I have posted: https://vimeo.com/128598099 Phoroptor Maintenance Tour, 2012 (17 minutes) https://vimeo.com/127938532 Phoroptor -- Close-up Details, 2012 (21 minutes) https://vimeo.com/127955643 Axis Tension, Turret Problems, 2014 (10 minutes) https://vimeo.com/128606849 Auxiliary Lenses and JCC Problems, 2015 (6 minutes) https://vimeo.com/133725303 Cleaning Phoroptor Lenses, 2009 (12 minutes) https://vimeo.com/133726032 Phoroptor Disassembly and Servicing, 2015 (31 minutes) https://vimeo.com/174616858 Cross-Cylinder Repair --- Complete Disassembly and Cleaning, July 2016 (17 minutes) https://vimeo.com/176166427 Cross Cylinder Repair -- Details of Reassembly, July 2016 (14 minutes) https://vimeo.com/174654962 Severe Shifting of the Cylinder Axis position, January to April 2016 (3 minutes) https://vimeo.com/129494305 Chart Calibration for Eye Exam Rooms, 2015 (12 minutes) https://vimeo.com/130355069 Re-Glue of Two Phoroptor Lenses for Reichert Phoroptors, 2015 (9 minutes) https://vimeo.com/130501240 Welch Allyn Ophthalmoscopes, Cleaning the Optics, 2015 (25 minutes) https://vimeo.com/132994223 Slit Lamp Maintenance, 2015 (32 min) https://vimeo.com/133151006 Install Marco Phoroptor Arm and adjust springs, 2015 (8 min) https://vimeo.com/133076717 Adjusting the Marco Phoroptor Arm, 2015 (8 min) https://vimeo.com/133151585 Marco Phoroptor Arm, Repair, 2015 (23 min) https://vimeo.com/172974238 Marco Phoroptor Arm, Repair, 2016 (4 min) https://vimeo.com/133725412 Face Shield Design Problem (for Reichert Phoroptors) 2015 (16 minutes) https://vimeo.com/175282680 Risley Prism Adventures, July 2016 (12 minutes) https://vimeo.com/192055469 Projector Repair, Marco CP-690E projector, Nov 2016 (8 minutes) https://vimeo.com/193957871 Re-Painting Indicator Arrows, for Phoroptors, Nov 2016 (10 minutes) https://vimeo.com/198723420 Cleaning Anti-Reflection Coated Lenses, in phoroptors, 2017 (22 min) .

• published: 09 Jan 2017
• views: 15