ABO NOCE Basic Opticianry Frame Adjustment Techniques by Material 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A beta-titanium (memory metal) temple springs back after every attempt to adjust it. The BEST course of action is to:
- Apply repeated heat cycles to override the memory effect
- Over-bend the temple slightly beyond the desired angle to compensate for spring-back (Correct answer)
- Use a torch to anneal the metal and remove its memory
- Advise the patient that beta-titanium temples cannot be adjusted
Correct answer: Over-bend the temple slightly beyond the desired angle to compensate for spring-back
Beta-titanium's superelastic memory requires over-correction beyond the target position because the material will spring partway back to its original shape.
Question 2: Which of the following describes the correct technique for adjusting the end piece angle on an acetate frame to correct facial asymmetry?
- Heat only the end piece area in a frame warmer, then carefully bend the temple at the hinge junction (Correct answer)
- Adjust both temples equally to maintain symmetry regardless of the patient's facial anatomy
- Replace the end pieces with adjustable metal ones
- Use a torch flame on the end piece for 3–5 seconds before bending
Correct answer: Heat only the end piece area in a frame warmer, then carefully bend the temple at the hinge junction
Localized heating of the end piece softens only that area, allowing the temple angle to be changed at the hinge junction without distorting the rest of the frame.
Question 3: A patient's nylon (polyamide) frame is adjusted in the office, but by the next day the adjustment has partially relaxed. The optician should explain that:
- Nylon frames hold adjustments permanently once cooled
- Nylon has inherent flexibility and may require follow-up adjustment, and results are often less stable than with acetate (Correct answer)
- The patient must have bent the frame themselves
- The frame is defective and must be returned to the manufacturer
Correct answer: Nylon has inherent flexibility and may require follow-up adjustment, and results are often less stable than with acetate
Nylon (polyamide) frames have high elasticity and may gradually creep back toward their original shape, making durable adjustments more challenging than with acetate.
Question 4: When should a frame warmer be used instead of hot water for softening an acetate frame?
- Hot water is always preferred because it heats the frame more evenly
- A frame warmer should be used when the frame has embedded rhinestones or heat-sensitive decorations that water could damage (Correct answer)
- Hot water should never be used; only frame warmers are acceptable
- A frame warmer is only appropriate for metal frames
Correct answer: A frame warmer should be used when the frame has embedded rhinestones or heat-sensitive decorations that water could damage
Hot water can loosen or damage decorative embellishments and certain adhesives; a frame warmer with controlled dry heat is safer for decorated or embellished frames.
Question 5: An optician is adjusting the vertex distance on a patient's high-plus lens frame by bringing the frame closer to the face. This adjustment is most commonly accomplished by:
- Increasing pantoscopic tilt
- Closing or narrowing the nose pad arms to move the frame forward on the nose (Correct answer)
- Widening the bridge of the frame
- Increasing the face form angle of the frame front
Correct answer: Closing or narrowing the nose pad arms to move the frame forward on the nose
Closing the nose pad arms brings the frame closer to the face, reducing vertex distance, which is particularly important for high-plus lenses where vertex distance significantly affects effective power.
Question 6: Which of the following describes 'face form angle' (also called wrap or zygomatic angle) in the context of frame fitting?
- The downward angle of the lens from the horizontal in the frontal plane
- The horizontal curve of the frame front that follows the contour of the patient's face (Correct answer)
- The angle at which the temple meets the end piece
- The angle of the nose pad relative to the nasal surface
Correct answer: The horizontal curve of the frame front that follows the contour of the patient's face
Face form angle (wrap) is the horizontal curvature of the frame front that conforms to the patient's facial contour, which can be increased by gently curving the frame front.
Question 7: A patient's plastic frame has one lens sitting higher than the other. After checking for frame twist, the optician determines the eye wire itself needs adjustment. The correct approach is to:
- Replace the lens on the lower side with a thicker lens
- Warm the frame and use angling or 'X-ing' pliers to rotate the low eye wire upward (Correct answer)
- Bend the bridge manually without heat to save time
- Add a nose pad to the low side to raise that lens
Correct answer: Warm the frame and use angling or 'X-ing' pliers to rotate the low eye wire upward
Warming the plastic and using angling (X-ing) pliers allows controlled rotation of the eye wire to bring the lenses to equal heights without cracking the frame.
ABO NOCE Basic Opticianry Frame Adjustment Techniques by Material 4
A beta-titanium (memory metal) temple springs back after every attempt to adjust it.
The BEST course of action is to: