EN ISO 13666:2019 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 13666:2019 - Ophthalmic optics: Spectacle lenses - Vocabulary standardizes terminology used for spectacle lenses, lens blanks and fitting purposes. It provides an internationally harmonized vocabulary for ophthalmic optics so that manufacturers, laboratories, eye-care professionals and regulators use consistent terms when specifying, testing, designing or documenting spectacle lenses.

This third edition (ISO 13666:2019) supersedes the 2012 edition and reorganizes all terms into Clause 3, with extensive updates to many definitions (including changes to vertex distance, design/reference points, and replacement of “as‑worn corrected dioptric power” by verification power).

Key topics and technical scope

The standard defines terms across the full lens lifecycle and optical descriptors, including:

• Basic optics and visible/optical radiation concepts
• Lenses and dispensing: blanks, finished lenses, reference points, design reference points, fitting terminology
• Lens materials and surfaces (terminology only - fabrication/material/process terms are covered in ISO 9802)
• Classifications by function, form, type and state of manufacture (e.g., single‑vision, multifocal, power‑variation lenses)
• Measurement terminology: dioptric properties, focal and prismatic properties, spherical/astigmatic power terms
• Multifocal / power‑variation descriptors and centration/focal property vocabulary
• Transmittance, reflectance, polarization and coatings terminology (including new spectral and transmittance terms such as ultraviolet, infrared and solar blue‑light transmittance)
• Annex A: spectral weighting functions and spectral distributions (informative)

The document contains an alphabetical index and a bibliography; there are no normative references within ISO 13666 itself.

Practical applications

Use this vocabulary to:

• Ensure consistent specifications and technical documentation between suppliers, labs and eye‑care professionals
• Improve clarity in procurement contracts, product data sheets and regulatory submissions
• Standardize test reports and quality records in lens manufacturing and inspection
• Support training materials, technical manuals and translations across languages and markets
• Facilitate international trade by aligning terminology with EN/ISO nomenclature

Who should use this standard

• Ophthalmic lens manufacturers and laboratories
• Optometrists, dispensing opticians and ophthalmologists involved in lens selection and fitting
• Standards bodies, regulators and conformity assessment bodies
• Product managers, technical writers and educators in vision care and optical engineering

Related standards

• ISO 9802 - terms for fabrication, surface treatment and defects in lens materials (complements ISO 13666)
• EN ISO 13666:2019 is the CEN endorsed version of ISO 13666:2019

Keywords: EN ISO 13666:2019, spectacle lenses vocabulary, ophthalmic optics terminology, lens blanks, verification power, vertex distance, spectacle magnification, multifocal lens terminology.