Optical Technician Study Notes

Optical Technician Study Notes

Introduction

  • Title: Optical Technician - A Custom Textbook for American Career College

  • Published by: American Career College

  • Contributors:
      - Dr. Anoosh Megerian, ABO-AC, NCLE-AC
      - Emelie Essilfie, ABOC, NCLEC
      - Dr. Parviz Parandoush, ABOC, NCLEC
      - Debra Bennett, ABOC, NCLE-AC
      - Further 2020 Additions and Revisions by:
        - Karina I. Castañeda, ABOC, NCLEC
        - Adrianna Arias, ABOC, NCLEC, CHEP
        - Victor E. Camacho, ABO-AC, NCLE-AC
        - Rhona Clearly, B.SC. Optom, ABOC, NCLEC
      - Contributors and Authors: Benny Calaustro

Copyright Information

  • Copyright: © 2020 by American Career College

  • All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means must be arranged with copyright holders.

  • Trademarks:
      - "Phoroptor" is a registered trademark of Reichert, Inc.

  • Printed in: United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Light and Lens Treatment

  1. Light
       - Details:
         - Visible light as a form of energy.
         - Two theories:
           1. Corpuscular or Quantum Theory - Light as particles (Photons).
           2. Electromagnetic Wave Theory - Light as waves.

  2. Reflection, Refraction, Absorption, and Transmission of Light

  3. Lens Coatings

  4. Photochromic and Transitions® Lenses

  5. Glare Control Lenses

  6. Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Lenses

  7. Sunwear and Sport

Chapter 2: Basic Optical Math

  1. Diopter Power and the Focal Length of a Lens

  2. Vertex Distance

  3. Sphere, Cylinder, Toric, and Aspheric Lenses

  4. Characteristics of a Plus Lens

  5. Characteristics of a Minus Lens

  6. Prescription

  7. Transposition

Chapter 3: Lenses

  1. Lens Materials

  2. Lens Aberrations

  3. Lens Designs

Chapter 4: Anatomy and Physiology and Common Medical Disorders

  1. Anatomy of the Eye

  2. Common Medical Conditions

  3. Refractive Errors and Visual Deficiencies

  4. Common Pre-Testing Procedures and Equipment

  5. Disorders That May Need Corrective Lenses

Chapter 5: Multifocal Lenses

  1. Presbyopia and Near Addition

  2. Types of Bifocals

  3. Types of Trifocals

  4. Occupational Lenses

  5. Progressive Addition Lenses

Chapter 6: Prism

  1. Prism

  2. Prism Imbalance

  3. Unwanted, Induced Prism

  4. Prescribed Prism

  5. Image Jump

  6. Vertical Imbalance

Chapter 7: Frames

  1. Frame Parts and Types

  2. Frame Materials

  3. Frame Selection

  4. Selecting Frames for Special Lenses

  5. Fitting Considerations

  6. Frame Tilts

  7. Face Forms

  8. Standard Alignment or Truing of Frames

  9. Summary

  10. Anatomical Fitting

  11. Summary of Adjustments for Moving the Frame on the Face

  12. Fitting Guide Summary

Chapter 8: Low Vision

  1. The Low Vision Patient

  2. How Vision Is Assessed

  3. Leading Causes of Low Vision

  4. How Low Vision Is Managed

  5. Dispensing to Low Vision Patients

Chapter 9: Salesmanship

  1. Customer Service

  2. The Sale

  3. Problem Solving

Chapter 10: HIPAA

  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Chapter 11: Medical Billing

  1. Medical Insurance Plans

  2. Billing and Coding

  3. Claim Form CMS 1500

  4. Claim Life Cycle

  5. Medicare

  6. Vision Insurance Plans

  7. Optician's Checklist

Chapter 12: Lab Notes

  1. Lensometer (Vertometer, Lensometer, Focimeter)

  2. Lensometer

  3. Measuring the Interpupillary Distance

  4. Instruments

  5. Frame Measurements

  6. Steps in Fabricating Single Vision Spectacles

  7. Steps in Fabricating Bifocal Spectacles

  8. Steps in Fabricating Progressive Spectacles

  9. Tinting

  10. Recommendations for Prescription Lenses: ANSI Standards

  11. Common Dispensing Tools

  12. External Laboratory: How Your Order Is Processed

Detailed Notes

Chapter 1: Light and Lens Treatment

  • **Unit One: Light
      - Visible light is a form of energy.
      - There are two theories that explain the behavior of light:
        1. *Corpuscular (Quantum) Theory:* Light is composed of particles known as Photons that move in straight lines.
        2. Electromagnetic Wave Theory: Light travels as waves.
      - Overall, light is an electromagnetic wave motion composed of particles called photons that travel as waves.
      - Terms Related to Waves:**
        - Crest: The highest point of a wave.
        - Trough: The deepest point of a wave.
        - Amplitude: The height or depth of a wave.
        - Wavelength: The distance between two crests or two troughs.
      - The wavelengths of visible light are extremely short and measured in nanometers (nm). The speed of light is 186,000186,000 miles per second.

  • **Unit Two: Reflection, Refraction, Absorption and Transmission of Light
      - Refraction: Light slows down when entering new substances (like water or plastic), changing speed determines the refraction index (n):
        n=racextSpeedoflightinairextSpeedoflightinmaterialn = rac{ ext{Speed of light in air}}{ ext{Speed of light in material}}
      - Index of Refraction Examples:
        - Air: n=1n = 1
        - Cornea: n=1.3375n = 1.3375
        - Glass: n=1.523n = 1.523
      - Prism: Deviates and disperses light; has prism power measured in prism diopters (Δ).
      - *Reflection:* Part of light reflects when it hits a surface; Regular reflection on smooth surfaces, irregular on rough surfaces.
      - Absorption: How much light a material retains. Higher refractive index materials absorb more light.

  • **Unit Three: Lens Coatings
      - Types and Functions of Coatings:
        - Anti-reflective (AR) Coatings eliminate surface reflections, enhance light transmission.
        - Scratch-resistant coatings provide durability.
        - Tinting options available.

  • **Unit Four: Photochromic and Transitions® Lenses
      - Change shade upon UV exposure (e.g., Transitions™ lenses).
      - Chemical component: Silver halide compounds.

  • **Unit Five: Glare Control Lenses
      - Polarized lenses are effective in minimizing glare from reflective surfaces (water, snow).

  • **Unit Six: CRT Lenses
      - Designed for users of Cathode Ray Tube screens to minimize eye strain.

  • Unit Seven: Sunwear and Sport
      - Different lens materials and tints for various sport activities (e.g., polarized sunglasses for fishing).

Chapter 2: Basic Optical Math

  • **Unit One: Diopter Power and the Focal Length of a Lens
      - The diopter (D) is the unit of lens power with focal length described by:
        D=rac1FLD = rac{1}{FL} where FL is the focal length in meters.
      - **Unit Two: Vertex Distance

  • Unit Three: Sphere, Cylinder, Toric and Aspheric Lenses
      - Definitions and applications.
      - Characteristics of each type of lens.

  • Unit Four: Characteristics of a Plus Lens
      - Converges light and has a specific focal length behind it (real focal point).

  • Unit Five: Characteristics of a Minus Lens
      - Diverges light resulting in a virtual focal point (in front of the lens).

  • Unit Six: Prescription
      - Writing conventions for lenses.

  • **Unit Seven: Transposition of lens power (conversion between plus and minus cylinder forms).

Chapter 3: Lenses

  • **Unit One: Lens Materials

  • **Unit Two: Lens Aberrations

  • **Unit Three: Lens Designs
      - Includes biconcave, bi-convex, meniscus, and aspheric lens designs with benefits and drawbacks.

Chapter 4: Anatomy and Physiology and Common Medical Disorders

  • **Unit One: Anatomy of the Eye
      - Three layers: Sclera (outer layer), Uvea (middle layer), Retina (inner layer).
      - Eye Parts: Sclera, Cornea, Iris, Pupil, Ciliary body (responsible for Aqueous humor), Retina, Macula, and others.

  • **Unit Two: Common Medical Conditions
      - Includes descriptions of glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and others.

  • **Unit Three: Refractive Errors and Visual Deficiencies
      - Emmetropia, myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism definitions with corrections.

  • **Unit Four: Common Pre-Testing Procedures and Equipment

  • **Unit Five: Disorders That May Need Corrective Lenses

Chapter 5: Multifocal Lenses

  • **Unit One: Presbyopia and Near Addition

  • **Unit Two: Types of Bifocals
      - Round, flat top, and other styles with specifics of use and fitting requirements.

  • **Unit Three: Types of Trifocals

  • **Unit Four: Occupational Lenses

  • **Unit Five: Progressive Addition Lenses

Chapter 6: Prism

  • **Unit One: Prism
      - Definitions and understanding of prisms in optics.

  • **Unit Two: Prism Imbalance
      - Effects of unequal prism in eyeglass lenses.

  • **Unit Three: Unwanted, Induced Prism
      - Understanding unintended prismatic effects derived from improper fitting or manufacturing.

  • **Unit Four: Prescribed Prism
      - For managing strabismus, adjustments for multi-prismatic effects.

  • **Unit Five: Image Jump

  • **Unit Six: Vertical Imbalance

Chapter 7: Frames

  • **Unit One: Frame Parts and Types

  • **Unit Two: Frame Materials

  • **Unit Three: Frame Selection
      - Defining criteria for fitting and specific visual requirements.

  • **Unit Four: Selecting Frames for Special Lenses

  • **Unit Five: Fitting Considerations

  • **Unit Six: Frame Tilts
      - Methods for adjusting for best visual acuity and comfort.

  • Unit Seven: Face Forms
      - Understanding facial fitting for eyewear.

  • **Unit Eight: Standard Alignment or Truing of Frames

  • **Unit Nine: Summary

  • **Unit Ten: Anatomical Fitting

Chapter 8: Low Vision

  • **Unit One: The Low Vision Patient
      - Understanding and identification of low vision criteria.

  • **Unit Two: How Vision Is Assessed

  • **Unit Three: Leading Causes of Low Vision

  • **Unit Four: How Low Vision Is Managed

  • **Unit Five: Dispensing to Low Vision Patients

Chapter 9: Salesmanship

  • **Unit One: Customer Service

  • **Unit Two: The Sale

  • **Unit Three: Problem Solving

Chapter 10: HIPAA

  • Definitions, patient rights, responsibilities, and constraints.

Chapter 11: Medical Billing

  • **Unit One: Medical Insurance Plans

  • **Unit Two: Billing and Coding

  • **Unit Three: Claim Form CMS 1500

  • **Unit Four: Claim Life Cycle

  • **Unit Five: Medicare

  • **Unit Six: Vision Insurance Plans

  • **Unit Seven: Optician’s Checklist

Chapter 12: Lab Notes

  • **Unit One: Lensometer

  • **Unit Two: Measuring the Interpupillary Distance

  • **Unit Three: Instruments

  • **Unit Four: Frame Measurements

  • **Unit Five: Steps in Fabricating Single Vision Spectacles

  • **Unit Six: Steps in Fabricating Bifocal Spectacles

  • **Unit Seven: Steps in Fabricating Progressive Spectacles

  • **Unit Eight: Tinting

  • **Unit Nine: Recommendations for Prescription Lenses

  • **Unit Ten: Common Dispensing Tools

  • **Unit Eleven: External Laboratory

Ensure to extensively cover each unit and chapter for exam preparations by referring back to the associated content in depth as outlined in the structure above.