Standard

Posted: 03/17/08

R State Standard         £ Institutionally Developed          College: N/A

OPD 106 – Optical Laboratory Techniques I

Course Description

Introduces students to the operations involved in lens fabrication. Emphasis is placed on gaining knowledge of equipment requirements and developing surfacing and finishing techniques. Topics include: safety and environmental procedures and lens processing terminology; lens surfacing and finishing equipment; lens blank selection and layout; lens surfacing techniques; lens finishing techniques; lens final insertion and mounting techniques; and standard alignment and inspection of lenses.

 

Competency Areas

Hours

Safety and Environmental Procedures and Lens Processing Terminology

Class

4

Lens Surfacing and Finishing Equipment

D. Lab

2

Lens Blank Selection and Layout

P. Lab/O.B.I.

9

Lens Surfacing Techniques

Credit

8

Lens Finishing Techniques

 

 

Lens Final Insertion and Mounting Techniques

 

 

Standard Alignment and Inspection of Lenses

 

 

 

Prerequisite:

Provisional admission

Corequisite:

 

 

Course Guide

 

Competency

After completing this section, the student will be able to:

Hours

Class

D.Lab

P.Lab/

O.B.I.

Safety and Environmental Procedures and Lens Processing Terminology

5

0

5

Safety

Describe safe practices to include environmental procedures.

 

 

 

 

Practice safety measures to include environmental procedures.

 

 

 

Fabrication

Name the two types of facilities associated with optical lens fabrication.

 

 

 

Blanks

Explain the difference between plus and minus lenses.

 

 

 

Grinding

Define lens grinding as it applies to the field of ophthalmic dispensing.

 

 

 

 

Define the terms lens axis, centration, blocking, deblocking, and edging as they apply to the finishing process.

 

 

 

 

Discuss the flow chart that outlines the lens processing sequences.

 

 

 

Special features

Explain the meanings of the special features harding, color coating, impact resistance testing, and glazing as they apply to glass lenses.

 

 

 

LENS SURFACING AND FINISHING EQUIPMENT         

5

 1

4 

Lensmeter

Describe how the lensmeter is used to verify during the surfacing process.

 

 

 

 

Name other terms for a lensmeter.

 

 

 

 

Verify sphere cylinder lenses using the lensmeter.

 

 

 

 

Describe the lens spotting process using the lensmeter.

 

 

 

Autolensmeter

Describe the purpose of the autolensmeter.

 

 

 

 

Describe the use of the autolensmeter for lens spotting.

 

 

 

Lens protractor

Name the instrument used to provide a graph grid and degree reference for lens making.

 

 

 

Hand layout

Describe the hand layout equipment used for lens surfacing.

 

 

 

Blocker

Describe the operation of a blocker as used in lens fabrication.

 

 

 

Reclaim tank

Describe the operation of a reclaim tank as used in lens fabrication.

 

 

 

Lens generator

Describe the operation of a lens generator as used in lens fabrication.

 

 

 

Edger

Describe the operation of a manual bevel edger as used in lens fabrication.

 

 

 

 

Describe the operation of an automatic edger as used in lens fabrication.

 

 

 

LENS BLANK SELECTION AND LAYOUT         

5

18 

Curve calculation

Describe the procedure used to calculate a curve for lens fabrication.

 

 

 

Lens thickness

Discuss important factors in lens selection for the fabrication process.

 

 

 

Decentration of lenses for surfacing

Contrast the boxing and datum systems of decentration.

 

 

 

Layout lens

Layout a lens for surfacing.

 

 

 

LENS SURFACING TECHNIQUES        

10

18 

Block lens

Block a lens for surfacing.

 

 

 

Generating lens

Surface a blocked lens.

 

 

 

Fining lens

Prepare a rough cut lens for polishing using the fining process.

 

 

 

Polishing lens

Polish a lens that has gone through a fining process.

 

 

 

LENS FINISHING TECHNIQUES           

5

5

18 

Calculating lens shape

Calculate lens measurements for finishing.

 

 

 

Decentration for finishing

Describe the decentration process as applied to lens finishing.

 

 

 

Pattern sets

Measure frame difference for pattern sets.

 

 

 

Calculation of lens size

Determine pattern size using calculations based on frame difference.

 

 

 

Checking pattern

Determine accuracy of lens pattern for selected frame.

 

 

 

Edger setting

Set edger for selected lens pattern.

 

 

 

Edging

Edge lenses for selected frame.

 

 

 

Shape changes

Discuss the procedure used to re-edge a lens for a different frame.

 

 

 

Lens Final Insertion and Mounting Techniques

5

1

9

Zyl frame

Describe the procedure used to insert a lens into a zyl frame.

Insert lens into a zyl frame.

 

 

 

Adapting zyl frames

Describe the procedure used to adapt a zyl frame for smaller size lenses.

 

 

 

Adjusting lens position

Describe the procedure for correcting a twisted lens.

 

 

 

 

Describe the procedure used to check alignment of bifocal lenses after insertion in a frame.

 

 

 

Standard Alignment and Inspection of Lenses

5

9

18

Surface quality

Demonstrate the procedure used to verify quality of the front and back surfaces of a lens.

 

 

 

Internal characteristics

Demonstrate the procedure used to verify the quality of the internal characteristics of a lens.

 

 

 

Waviness

Demonstrate the procedure for detecting waviness in uneven lens surfaces.

 

 

 

Power verification

Verify lens power using a lensmeter.

 

 

 

Prism

Determine if lens prism agrees with prescription.

 

 

 

OC versus MRP

Determine the optical center and major reference point of a lens.

 

 

 

 

Suggested Resources

 

Brooks, C. F. (1983). Essentials for Ophthalmic Lens Work. Stoneham, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Brooks, C. F., & Borish, I. (1986). System for Ophthalmic Dispensing. Stoneham, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann.