Twenty Essential Troubleshooting Tips

for Opticians
Timothy Coronis, ABOC-NCLE, is an American Board of Opticianry technical speaker and freelance author. As an independent continuing
education provider he can deliver credits in your office or speak at your next meeting. He may be reached
at [email protected]

10-2009

Dispensers have a wide array of options today when recommending spectacle lenses and
frames. Technology shows no sign of slowing down either, so that means more tools available
to create outstanding eyewear. However, as the number of choices expands, the core role
remains providing the best solutions for vision correction and style. Make recommendations
but be sure you are successful combining all of the elements to achieve the intended effect.

Identify the problem, understand the technology and use the tips for better solutions. Many
of these solutions and tips are short enough to use directly with the patient, once you’ve
identified their problem.

At the Dispensing Table

1. Problem: Discomfort recommending AR on high-index lenses because of the cost of
high-index when compared to plastic (especially in a tight economy).
Solution: High-index materials reflect more than standard plastic. In order for the
patient to see their best, high-index lenses in particular need anti-reflective surfaces.
Tip: Always recommend lenses in the best form they are available. Consider bundling
high-index and AR together; refer to them as AR lenses and not as lenses with an AR
“coating.”
2. Problem: High-plus plastic lenses bulge and
can push out of a frame, upsetting the
patient.
Solution: Because plus lenses are thick in the
middle and thin at the edge, they can change
the shape of the top eyewire. Flatter, aspheric lenses, especially high-index, present a
sleeker profile.
Tip: Use a lens that is both aspheric and high-index. The frame with lenses will be
more natural in shape and the eyewear will look better too.

3. Problem: Plus lenses magnify the wearer’s

eyes, resulting in an odd appearance.
Solution: Flattened aspherics reduce
pincushion distortion of plus lenses by
flattening the front surface of the lens reducing
magnification.
Tip: Aspheric lenses reduce magnification of plus powers, patient’s eyes are more
natural in size and they just look better.

4. Problem: I ordered premium, high-index minus lenses but they still came out very
thick at the edge.
Solution: Decentration, (when the PD is much smaller than the distance between
frame centers, DBC) can cause temporal lens edges to be thicker. In addition, frame
shapes that have high corners, like cat-eye shapes, will also require larger lenses
since larger diameter lenses are needed.
Tip: Improve the lens-frame combination by making the DBC and PD similar; also
consider long corners and the power along those axes.
5. Problem: Uncertain whether or not to offer
wrap sunglasses for a given minus
prescription.
Solution: Most wrap frames require steeper
lenses than may ordinarily be used—think
-3.00 or more. These Rxs have flatter front
curves. Using the correct lens flatness will
change the shape of the frame so you must
use steeper lenses.
Tip: Use a lens clock to check the base curves
of the original plano lenses in the sunglasses.
Order the Rx with a base curve that is 1 to 2D
flatter than the frame and order prism to compensate for the prism that the lens will
create at the wrap angle. Rule of thumb: order 0.2 prism diopters Base In for lens
powers less than +/-2.50D at the 180 meridian; order 0.37D for powers above 2.50D.

6. Problem: The patient is unhappy. Their plus lenses in the new grooved rimless frame
are several millimeters thick at the nose.
Solution: Grooved rimless frames require a minimum edge thickness for the
grooving, which means plus becomes thicker in the nasal when decentered.
Tip: Consider aspheric, high-index lenses (reduced thickness), with minimal
decentration (again reducing thickness), in a full-rim frame (hides the lens edge).

7. Problem: Polarized lenses in a frame show an irregular pattern around the edges in
some lighting situations.
Solution: Polarized lenses may display their own stress pattern, something visible to
the naked eye. When in doubt regarding stress on lenses, use a colma- or polariscope
to check for stress. A laptop or flat screen monitor may also substitute because its
screen is polarized and will highlight stress in lenses when viewed through them.
Tip: Be sure screws are not over-tightened and lenses are not bent or have been
made too large for the frame.

8. Problem: The patient asks how thick the edges of his lenses will be in the frame.
Solution: The patient is clearly concerned about the visibility of their lenses. Obtain
the best possible results through reduced decentration, rounded corners, high-index,
AR lenses. Look at their current eyewear—can you improve on it?
Tip: Tell patients that good proportions and good choices deliver the best results.
Also, use lens charts that show the edge or center thickness of powers equivalent to
their prescription.

9. Problem: The patient wants a wrap, PAL polarized pair of glasses for motorcycle
riding but it’s uncomfortable presenting so many premium options.
Solution: Determine the best lens choice for motorcycling. The patient may get
better results with distance vision in a riding pair and a PAL in a dress pair.
Tip: Determine patient use before presenting options. Present motorcycle eyewear as
best available equipment, similar to helmet, riding apparel and the motorcycle itself.
Patients will thank you for presenting the best to them so they may safely pursue
their avocation.

10. Problem: My staff is eager to learn, but not

interested in sitting for a certification exam.
Solution: Determine the areas needing
improvement and the items of staff interest.
Develop a plan and goals for each staff
member.
Tip: Contact lab and manufacturer lens
consultants, technical services and your frame
reps; they are able to present information and
teach new concepts in your own office.
Visitwww.2020mag.com for a suggested
curriculum and educational courses.
11. Problem: The patient asks about tints to protect their children’s eyes outdoors.
Solution: They’re right about wanting to protect children’s eyes. Studies suggest that
individuals are exposed to 80 percent of the accumulated lifetime UV radiation by the
time they are age 18. UV absorbing, photochromic lenses are a great tool to prevent
UV from entering the eye and they add comfort in all light conditions.
Tip: Photochromic polycarbonate or Trivex lenses are ideal for kids of all ages. Unlike
a tint, photochromic lenses are clear indoors and darken as needed while always
blocking harmful UV rays.

12. Problem: Today, patients may be asking for the least expensive option possible and
don’t want to hear about AR.
Solution: Regardless, match the spectacles to the patient’s needs and explain the
options. You may inquire, “Do you deal with a lot of people in the course of a day? AR
lenses present a better image and you’ll experience less eyestrain, too.”
Tip: Present the best options to patients, they’ll make the final choice and you’ll be
more confident.

13. Problem: You received glasses back from the lab with the patient’s new +1.00 Rx
and prescribed 3D Base Out prism in the patient’s own grooved rimless frame. The
patient is unhappy with the appearance. The Base Out lens is thicker on the temporal
edge than their previous lenses.
Solution: Plus lens, Base Out requires that the lens’ optical center is moved out so
the edge of the lens will become thicker. In their previous lenses, the lenses were
made for the minimum edge thinness possible and contained no prism. The best way
to minimize the thinness of the prism is with high-index lenses and a frame that will
mask the thickness.
Tip: Envision the look of the lenses first before frame selection, and then choose an
appropriate frame. A thicker eyewire or zyl frame will help cover the lens edges. High-
index would make the lenses look more similar. This is a good job to discuss with your
lab.

In the Lab

14. Problem: Inconsistent powers using a manual lens meter, lens-to-lens, optician-to-
optician.
Solution: Each optician should begin by calibrating the lens meter to his or her own
eyes. Set the power drum to zero, plano. Rotate the eyepiece until the target is crisp.
Tip: When checking lens power, rotate the power drum toward more plus, not back
and forth. Turning toward minus makes your eye add plus power, turning the drum
toward plus prevents accommodating. Do this and lens meter skills will improve.

15. Problem: Unable to find the optical

centers of lenses (OC) because the lens
has no power along the 180 (horizontal)
meridian when trying to confirm the PD?
Solution: In some prescriptions, like
+1.00 -1.00 at 90 will read plano power
along the 180. This is because Rxs have
only the sphere power at the axis and the
sum of the sphere and cylinder 90 degrees
from the axis. That’s because the cylinder has no power along its axis and 100
percent power 90 degrees away.
Tip: Use other reference points if available; on progressives, dot the semi-visible
engravings, the segments on bifocals will provide a near PD. For single-vision lenses
ensure that vertical imbalance is within tolerance and, if there is no power at the 180,
apply the limit of 0.66 prism diopters tolerance to accept or reject the glasses.

16. Problem: How do I verify the Rx in a wrap frame when the order says “Compensated
Rx”?
Solution: When an Rx is added to a wrap frame and is measured on a lensmeter,
there is prism present. This is okay, it’s the prism necessary to cancel the prism that
 would be created by an ordinary lens at the wrap angle of the frame. Also, at this
angle, an ordinary lens would change power. Labs that compensate the Rx change the
power so that the patient “sees” the Rx as it was prescribed.
Tip: Use labs that have special wrap Rx programs or partner with wrap sunglass
manufacturers. Those labs provide the “Compensated Rx” on the invoice. Use this to
verify the Rx.

17. Problem: We need to know whether our 75mm finished lens inventory will be large
enough for the sunglass frame chosen—the patient needs them in an hour.
Solution: The Minimum Blank Size (MBS) formula helps you know the smallest lens
needed. It is MBS = Effective Diameter + 2 x Lens Decentration. Add the Effective
Diameter to twice the amount of decentration for each lens.
Tip: Use the Minimum Blank Size formula. Always know what is possible before the
patient leaves.

18. Problem: A pair of high-index lenses, power about -9.00, has very thick edges and is
too visible for the patient in the plastic frame chosen.
Solution: Removing material from the back of the lens using a hand stone may help
for a perfect fit or you may need a specialized bevel. Call your sales rep if unsure
which jobs your in-house edger can deliver properly. Your lab supplier should also be
able to help you.
Tip: Some lab work is better sent out to specialists. Many times thick lenses and
plastic frames can require a specialized edger for a bevel different from the standard
“v” hide-a-bevel.

19. Problem: An Rx of +0.25- 0.25x 180 made with stock, finished plastic lenses, in a
grooved rimless frame, are chipping at the edges.
Solution: Finished lenses may be too thin at the edge to have enough thickness for
the groove (about 0.6mm width) and wall thickness so the plastic won’t chip (needs
about 0.9mm width). This means that 2.4mm is about the right edge thickness
required. If a thinner lens is preferred, consider polycarbonate or Trivex because of
their “anti-chip” properties.
Tip: Order lenses and tell your lab that the frame is a grooved rimless. Thicker edge
lenses (2.2 to 2.5mm) help with chipping. For thinner lenses also at the edge,
consider polycarbonate or Trivex.

20. Problem: Your patient has just noticed that her polarized lens has a white edge
around it in the frame, particularly at the top.
Solution: Polarized lenses are clear and it’s the polarizing film that gives them their
color. As a result, the lens portion in front of the film and behind it is transparent.
Plastic polarized lenses can be tinted at the edges by a very quick dip in the same
color as the film (poly lenses cannot be tinted on the edge since the material is not
tintable but color pens can be used). Also, request the bevel closer to the front so that
a minimum lens edge sticks out the front of the frame.
Tip: When edging polarized, adjust the location of the bevel closer to the lens front.
Add tint to the edge for tintable materials or color pens for polycarbonate.