Thin lens is the index of refraction of the lens material, and "R" and "R" are the radii of curvature of the two surfaces. For a thin lens, "d" is much smaller than one of the radii of curvature (either "R" or "R"). In these conditions, the last term of the Lensmaker's equation becomes negligible, and the focal length of a thin lens in air can be approximated by Here "R" is taken to be positive if the first surface is convex, and negative if the surface is concave. The signs are reversed for the back surface of the lens: "R" is
Lens (optics) real object at the location of that virtual image. Likewise, it appears to a subsequent lens as if it were an object at that location, so that second lens could again focus that light into a real image, "S" then being measured from the virtual image location behind the first lens to the second lens. This is exactly what the eye does when looking through a magnifying glass. The magnifying glass creates a (magnified) virtual image behind the magnifying glass, but those rays are then re-imaged by the lens of the eye to create a "real image" on the retina.