ABO NOCE Basic Opticianry Laws, Regulations, and Standards Questions and Answers 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient's contact lens prescription does not include the brand name of the lens. Under the FCLCA, the prescriber:
- Is in violation of federal law
- May omit brand if a material specification equivalent is listed (Correct answer)
- Must rewrite the prescription immediately
- Can substitute any brand the seller prefers
Correct answer: May omit brand if a material specification equivalent is listed
The FCLCA allows brand to be omitted if the prescription includes equivalent material specifications such as base curve, diameter, and power.
Question 2: Which regulation mandates that ophthalmic lens prescriptions be released to patients, and which federal agency enforces it?
- FCLCA — enforced by the FDA
- Eyeglass Rule — enforced by the FTC (Correct answer)
- HIPAA — enforced by HHS
- ADA — enforced by DOJ
Correct answer: Eyeglass Rule — enforced by the FTC
The FTC's Eyeglass Rule mandates that prescribers release spectacle prescriptions to patients and is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.
Question 3: According to ANSI Z80.1, for a prescription with sphere power of -5.00 D and no cylinder, what is the allowed power tolerance?
- ±0.06 D
- ±0.12 D (Correct answer)
- ±0.25 D
- ±0.50 D
Correct answer: ±0.12 D
ANSI Z80.1 allows a power tolerance of ±0.12 D for lenses with a vertex power exceeding 3.37 D in the meridian being tested.
Question 4: A dispensary must retain patient prescription and sales records. The minimum record retention period is most commonly governed by:
- Federal FDA regulations exclusively
- State optician licensing board or state law (Correct answer)
- ABO certification standards
- ANSI Z80.1 requirements
Correct answer: State optician licensing board or state law
Record retention requirements for optical dispensaries are primarily set by individual state licensing boards or state statutes, and vary by state.
Question 5: Under ABO standards, the NOCE examination tests competency in which broad domain related to laws?
- International optics trade agreements
- Federal, state, and local regulations affecting optical practice (Correct answer)
- ISO manufacturing compliance
- FDA device recall procedures only
Correct answer: Federal, state, and local regulations affecting optical practice
The NOCE includes a domain covering federal, state, and local laws and regulations relevant to the practice of opticianry in the United States.
Question 6: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires optical retailers with 15 or more employees to:
- Provide free eyewear to disabled customers
- Make reasonable accommodations for qualified employees with disabilities (Correct answer)
- Offer low vision services on site
- Stock ADA-compliant frame styles
Correct answer: Make reasonable accommodations for qualified employees with disabilities
The ADA requires covered employers (15+ employees) to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.
Question 7: Which standard governs the requirements for nonprescription (plano) sunglasses sold in the United States?
- ANSI Z80.1
- ANSI Z80.3 (Correct answer)
- ANSI Z87.1
- FDA 21 CFR 886
Correct answer: ANSI Z80.3
ANSI Z80.3 covers requirements for nonprescription sunglasses and fashion eyewear, including transmittance and optical quality standards.
ABO NOCE Basic Opticianry Laws, Regulations, and Standards Questions and Answers 4
A patient's contact lens prescription does not include the brand name of the lens.
Under the FCLCA, the prescriber: