Apparatus and method for evaluation of optical elements

A method for measuring a lens having a focal length and comprising a first surface and a second surface defining a lens thickness therebetween, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) measuring the thickness of the lens at a center of the lens with a low coherence interferometer, wherein the low coherence interferometer is configured to direct a first beam of light along a defined axis of the lens;
• b) measuring the focal length of the lens with a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor comprising a light source configured to emit a second beam of light and a plurality of lenslets placed in front of a sensor array;
• c) communicating the thickness of the lens and the focal length of the lens to an analyzer computer;
• d) calculating a radius of curvature of the first surface of the lens and a radius of curvature of the second surface of the lens using an algorithm executed by the computer to obtain dimensions of the lens;
• and
• e) performing at least one of storing in a non-transitory computer storage medium, communicating externally, or displaying the dimensions of the lens.