ABO NOCE Basic Opticianry Laws, Regulations, and Standards Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient completes their eye exam and requests a copy of their prescription to purchase glasses elsewhere. The optical's policy is to charge a $25 fee for prescription release to non-purchasing patients. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Eyeglass Rule, this policy is:
- Permissible, as long as the fee is clearly posted.
- Permissible, but the fee cannot exceed $10.
- Not permissible, as a prescription must be provided automatically and without charge. (Correct answer)
- Not permissible, unless the patient signs a waiver acknowledging the fee.
Correct answer: Not permissible, as a prescription must be provided automatically and without charge.
The FTC Eyeglass Rule mandates that prescribers provide patients with a copy of their eyeglass prescription immediately following an exam. This must be done automatically, whether or not the patient asks for it, and without levying any additional fees or requiring the purchase of ophthalmic goods.
Question 2: An optician is verifying a pair of industrial safety glasses for a factory worker. To comply with the ANSI Z87.1 standard for high-impact resistance, what specific marking must be present on both the frame and lenses?
- UV400
- Z87+ (Correct answer)
- CE
- FDA-Approved
Correct answer: Z87+
The ANSI Z87.1 standard requires that safety frames and lenses rated for high-impact resistance be marked with "Z87+". The simple "Z87" mark indicates basic impact resistance, but the "+" is crucial for high-impact designation. For prescription safety eyewear, the marking is typically "Z87-2+".
Question 3: While helping a patient at the dispensing table, an optician loudly calls out to a coworker in the finishing lab, "Hey, can you check the status on Jane Doe's -8.50 sphere progressives, date of birth January 15, 1965?" This action is most likely a violation of which federal regulation?
- FTC Eyeglass Rule
- ANSI Z80.1 Standards
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) (Correct answer)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Correct answer: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
This action is a likely violation of HIPAA, which protects the privacy of individually identifiable health information, known as Protected Health Information (PHI). Discussing a patient's full name, date of birth, and specific prescription details in a public area where others can overhear is a failure to take reasonable safeguards to protect PHI.
Question 4: According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's regulation for standard dress eyewear (21 CFR 801.410), what are the specifications for the 'drop ball test' used to ensure impact resistance?
- A 1-inch steel ball dropped from 39.4 inches.
- A 1/4-inch steel ball dropped from 60 inches.
- A pointed 1.1 lb projectile fired at 150 ft/sec.
- A 5/8-inch steel ball dropped from 50 inches. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A 5/8-inch steel ball dropped from 50 inches.
The FDA regulation at 21 CFR 801.410 specifies that to test the impact resistance of dress eyewear lenses, a 5/8-inch steel ball (weighing approx. 0.56 ounces) must be dropped from a height of 50 inches onto the lens. The lens must not fracture to pass the test.
Question 5: A finished pair of single vision glasses is inspected and found to have a vertical prism imbalance of 0.50Δ between the right and left lenses. According to the ANSI Z80.1-2020 standard, does this pair of glasses meet the tolerance for vertical prism?
- Yes, the tolerance is up to 0.67Δ.
- No, the tolerance for vertical prism is a maximum of 0.33Δ. (Correct answer)
- Yes, the tolerance is up to 1.00Δ.
- No, the standard requires an absolute zero vertical imbalance.
Correct answer: No, the tolerance for vertical prism is a maximum of 0.33Δ.
The ANSI Z80.1-2020 standard for prescription ophthalmic lenses states that the tolerance for vertical prismatic imbalance between a pair of mounted single vision or multifocal lenses shall not exceed 0.33Δ (one-third of a prism diopter). An imbalance of 0.50Δ is outside this acceptable tolerance.
Question 6: In an optical finishing lab where chemicals such as dyes and neutralizers are used, an employee accidentally splashes a solution towards their face. Per Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, what specific equipment must be immediately available to the employee?
- A fire extinguisher.
- A standard first-aid kit with bandages.
- An eyewash station. (Correct answer)
- A phone to call emergency services.
Correct answer: An eyewash station.
OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.151(c) requires that where a person's eyes or body may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body must be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use. An eyewash station is the appropriate and required equipment for this type of incident.
ABO NOCE Basic Opticianry Laws, Regulations, and Standards Questions and Answers
A patient completes their eye exam and requests a copy of their prescription to purchase glasses elsewhere.
The optical's policy is to charge a $25 fee for prescription release to non-purchasing patients.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Eyeglass Rule, this policy is: