Abstract: An improved method for finding the refractive properties of lenses includes placement of the test lens in an optical system such that its image lies in a plane at which light passes through at least two spaced areas. The beams passing through those areas fall on respectively associated targets. The amount and angle of separation and the positions of the points of impingement of the beams are used to find the magnitude of spherical lens power component and magnitude, and angle of any prismatic and cylindrical power components. That information can be found by computation or by the use of means for displacing the targets and light source until the beams strike reference points on the targets. The amount of target or source displacement is then a function of the magnitude of the several optical powers and the orientation of the prismatic and cylindrical powers.An apparatus for practicing the method is described. It accomplishes target and source displacement with servo-mechanisms.