A method of taking an ophthalmic measurement is carried out with an electronic handheld device having a touchscreen display and a camera unit for producing digital photographic images with the handheld device that are displayed on the touchscreen display in real time. The handheld device has a orientation sensing unit for determining the orientation of the handheld device. A subject is positioned wearing a spectacle frame on the subjects head at a position so that real time images of the subjects head with the spectacle frame from the camera unit are displayed in the touchscreen display. The electronic handheld device is moved with the real time images of the subjects head and eyewear being displayed within the display until the orientation sensing unit of the handheld device measures that the handheld device is at a selected oriented position. An image of the subjects head and eyewear are automatically captured and stored on the electronic handheld device at the moment the orientating sensing unit measures that the handheld device is at the selected oriented position. At least one ophthalmic measurement is made using the captured image.
