Course

Opticianry Lab Skills I

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Opticianry
Course code
OPTI 1112
Credits
6.00
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
15
Method(s) of instruction
Lab
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

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

Learning activities
  • Application / calculation exercises in laboratory
  • Laboratory assignments
  • Independent study

 

 

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

Requisites

Prerequisites

Students in the OPTI program are required to maintain a passing grade of 60% (C) in all courses except Mastery graded courses in order to progress in the program.

Corequisites

Courses listed here must be taken simultaneoustly with this course.

OPTI 1100

Equivalencies

DOPT 1112

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for OPTI 1112
There are no applicable transfer credits for this course.

Course Offerings

Winter 2025