Course Description
This course provides students with the laboratory skills required for quality control of lenses, insertion and mounting lenses into various frame materials/designs, and the ability to layout and prepare lenses for edging. Students will learn how to maintain the equipment and tools associated with the edging and finishing laboratory.
Course Content
Introduction
- An orientation to the equipment and tools used in the dispensing lab
- An overview of the edging process
- Introduction to industry standard charts
- Safety procedures in the laboratory including infection prevention and control
Spotting of Lenses
- Checking for optimal surface quality
- Use of the lensometer
- Power verification of single vision lenses
- Optical centre versus major reference point
- Single vision lenses with prism
Frames
- Frame parts, types and materials
- Frame measurements and markings
- Frame selection
- Frame alignment and adjustment
- Frame repairs
- Specialized frames
- Lens insertion and removal
- Frame maintenance and cleaning
Centration of Single Vision Lenses
- The mechanics of lens centration
- Horizontal and vertical centration
- The boxing system
- Calculating lens blank sizes
- Industry standards formulas
Blocking of Lenses
- The lens protractor
- Marking a single vision lens
- Double checking lens blank size
- Pupil distances and accuracy
- Blocking systems and their relationship to lens materials
- Deblocking lenses
Edging
- The edging process
- Deviations from edger settings
- Lens chucking
- Bevel selection
- Verification with polariscope
- Variations in lens materials
Hand Edging
- Purpose of hand edging
- Developing the correct technique
- Lens insertion and mounting
Frame materials
- Mounting design variations
- Hand tooling
- Heating and cooling
- Drilling and notching
- Grooving and nylor mounts
- Lens alignment
- Frame alignment
- Final verification
Identification of Lens Types, Materials and Coatings
Communication and Interaction with Patients
- Cultural safety and humility
- Patient-provider relationships
- Informed consent
- Patient file documentation
- Appropriate patient referral
Basic Equipment Maintenance
Means of Assessment
Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:
- Professionalism, preparedness, and attendance 0-5%
- Assignments 10-20%
- Term tests 40-60%
- Final exam 25-30%
- Total 100%
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- spot check lenses for surface quality;
- verify the power of a single vision lens with the lensometer;
- mark the optical centre and major reference point of a single vision lens;
- calculate horizontal and vertical lens decentration;
- calculate lens blank size requirements;
- use equipment for dispensing eyeglasses including the lensometer, pupilometer, distometer, lens clock ruler and thickness callipers;
- perform the process of lens edging;
- perform lens insertion and mounting with various frame designs and materials;
- verify completed eyewear;
- define ophthalmic terms pertaining to frame materials, designs, fitting and adjustments;
- perform frame fitting and adjustments;
- incorporate cultural safety and humility in opticianry practices;
- describe the history and ongoing effects of colonization on the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, including disparities of power in patient-provider relationships;
- identify situations where informed consent may be problematic and take appropriate steps to ensure patient understanding;
- adhere to infection prevention and control measures established by jurisdiction and national regulatory bodies;
- recognize significant signs and symptoms in relation to the patient's eyes to identify the need for referral;
- document patient visits to allow for effective continuity of care.
Textbook Materials
Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:
Brooks and Borish, System for Ophthalmic Dispensing, current edition, Butterworth Heinemann Elsevier