A tool designed for ophthalmic purposes converts a negative cylindrical lens prescription to its positive counterpart. For example, a prescription of -2.00 sphere, -1.00 cylinder, and 90 axis can be transposed to -1.00 sphere, +1.00 cylinder, and 180 axis. This transposition represents the same corrective power but expressed differently.
This conversion offers several practical advantages in optometry and ophthalmology. Transposing to plus cylinder allows for easier lens fabrication in some instances and can simplify specific calculations related to lens combinations and prescriptions. Historically, different regional preferences and manufacturing techniques contributed to the use of either plus or minus cylinder notation, necessitating a method for readily converting between the two forms. This remains relevant today for international communication and consistency in lens prescriptions.