An apparatus for measuring an unhydrated ophthalmic lens, the apparatus comprising: a kinematic mount configured to mount a forming optic assembly comprising a forming optic mandrel thereon and to releasably secure the forming optic assembly by a negative atmospheric pump supplying a negative atmospheric pressure, or vacuum pressure to a space between the forming optic assembly and the kinematic mount through the forming optic assembly rotation axis; a metrology device comprising a displacement sensor capable of taking a displacement measurement in response to a digital signal; a computer processor in digital communication with the metrology device; a digital media storage device in communication with the computer processor and having stored thereon executable software code which when executed upon demand on the computer processor and operative with the metrology device: store digital data descriptive of an inventory of metrology data wherein said metrology data comprises a measurement; receive digital metrology data input descriptive of measurements from the metrology device comprising a reference measurement, M1, of said forming optic mandrel without an unhydrated ophthalmic lens formed thereon and a measurement, M2, of the unhydrated ophthalmic lens formed upon the same forming optic mandrel; and calculate an axial thickness value of the unhydrated ophthalmic lens by subtracting the M1 metrology data from the M2 metrology data. a kinematic mount configured to mount a forming optic assembly comprising a forming optic mandrel thereon and to releasably secure the forming optic assembly by a negative atmospheric pump supplying a negative atmospheric pressure, or vacuum pressure to a space between the forming optic assembly and the kinematic mount through the forming optic assembly rotation axis; a metrology device comprising a displacement sensor capable of taking a displacement measurement in response to a digital signal; a computer processor in digital communication with the metrology device; a digital media storage device in communication with the computer processor and having stored thereon executable software code which when executed upon demand on the computer processor and operative with the metrology device: store digital data descriptive of an inventory of metrology data wherein said metrology data comprises a measurement; receive digital metrology data input descriptive of measurements from the metrology device comprising a reference measurement, M1, of said forming optic mandrel without an unhydrated ophthalmic lens formed thereon and a measurement, M2, of the unhydrated ophthalmic lens formed upon the same forming optic mandrel; and calculate an axial thickness value of the unhydrated ophthalmic lens by subtracting the M1 metrology data from the M2 metrology data. store digital data descriptive of an inventory of metrology data wherein said metrology data comprises a measurement; receive digital metrology data input descriptive of measurements from the metrology device comprising a reference measurement, M1, of said forming optic mandrel without an unhydrated ophthalmic lens formed thereon and a measurement, M2, of the unhydrated ophthalmic lens formed upon the same forming optic mandrel; and calculate an axial thickness value of the unhydrated ophthalmic lens by subtracting the M1 metrology data from the M2 metrology data.