Lesson 16 - Laws, Regulation, and Guidelines

Question 1

OSHA

Answer 1

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Question 2

OSHA standards

Answer 2

Standards and requirements to ensure that employers educate and make workers aware that they have the right to work in a safe environment and to be aware of potential workplace hazards and dangers

Question 3

Tempering

Answer 3

Hardening glass lenses to make them impact-resistant

Question 4

Maltese-cross

Answer 4

The pattern a hardened lens makes in a polariscope

Question 5

ASTM

Answer 5

The American Society for Testing and Material. It is the association that sets rules for the safety testing of eyewear materials. An ASTM-approved eyewear product includes specific information on its label identifying which sports the eyewear is approved for and when it was manufactured. The label also includes warnings about the protective limitations of the eyewear.

Question 6

ANSI

Answer 6

The American National Standards Institute. This is the association that sets standards for eye protection

Question 7

For impact-resistant frames, this mark will be etched into the frame.

Answer 7

Z87-2+

Question 8

FTC Eyeglasses I

Answer 8

This set of rules, issued in 1978, requires optical professionals to give clients a copy of their prescription so the clients can have the prescription filled anywhere.

We need to do this immediately after the eye exam, whether the client is purchasing eyewear from us or not—and we need to do it even if the person doesn’t ask for the prescription.

Question 9

FTC Eyeglasses II

Answer 9

This set of rules, issued in 1989, allows prescribers to list any information that’s important to the client’s visual welfare on the prescription.

For instance, a doctor might specify polycarbonate material in the prescription of a person who has good vision in only one eye. This benefits the client, because it protects the person’s safety, and it can help protect the doctor against liability in the event that the person suffers an eye injury.

Question 10

FDA

Answer 10

Federal Drug Administration

Question 11

EPA

Answer 11

Environmental Protection Agency. Their purpose is to reduce human and environmental health risks associated with hazardous waste pharmaceuticals (HWP) being disposed down drains.

Question 12

HIPAA

Answer 12

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. The federal government established the health information privacy and security rule to give people rights over their own health and private information, and ensures that their electronic information is kept secure. The rules of HIPAA are focused around personal health information (PHI), which is any identifiable information to a client. The list is vast and includes information such as:

Name
Birthdate
Birth year
Email address
Home address
Social security numbers
Account numbers
Photos
And more!

Question 13

A scratch-resistant coating or an antireflection coating on a plastic lens will do what to the lens structure?

Answer 13

First, as you discovered in today’s reading, a scratch-resistant coating or an antireflection coating on a plastic lens will weaken the lens. As a result, the lens will be more apt to break than a non-coated lens.

This is something you’ll need to warn clients about if they want to wear plastic-lens glasses for sports or a job where a hard object could hit their glasses. In general, you should not put an antireflective coating on sports glasses, even if clients ask for this.

Question 14

It’s also important for clients to know that a lens with scratches is more likely to do what than an unscratched lens? A lens with scratches on the backside is less what than a lens with front-surface scratches?

Answer 14

It’s also important for clients to know that a lens with scratches is more likely to break than an unscratched lens. A lens with scratches on the backside is less impact-resistant than a lens with front-surface scratches.

Question 15

First-time users of progressive lenses or traditional bifocals need to be very careful when they do what because their depth perception can be affected?

Answer 15

first-time users of progressive lenses or traditional bifocals need to be very careful when they go downstairs or step off a curb, because their depth perception can be affected.

Question 16

Protective goggles can’t prevent damage from happening to glasses worn under them—so if your client wears goggles over dress glasses, the dress glasses should have what?

Answer 16

protective goggles can’t prevent damage from happening to glasses worn under them—so if your client wears goggles over dress glasses, the dress glasses should have impact-resistant lenses made of a material like Trivex or polycarbonate.

Question 17

It’s also your duty to warn your clients about the limitations of their safety eyewear. For example, a ball that strikes the frame or lens of a pair of safety glasses can still do what?

Answer 17

It’s also your duty to warn your clients about the limitations of their safety eyewear. For example, a ball that strikes the frame or lens of a pair of safety glasses can still cause damage to the eyeball.

Question 18

Even if a client has no need for prescription glasses or contact lenses, you have the responsibility to talk about what?

Answer 18

Even if a client has no need for prescription glasses or contact lenses, you have the responsibility to talk about safety. A patient who has perfect vision may still need safety glasses to protect that vision, and it’s your job as an eye care professional to discuss this.

Question 19

Even if a client has no need for prescription glasses or contact lenses, you have the responsibility to what?

Answer 19

Even if a client has no need for prescription glasses or contact lenses, you have the responsibility to talk about safety. A patient who has perfect vision may still need safety glasses to protect that vision, and it’s your job as an eye care professional to discuss this.

Question 20

With regard to eye care, workers are required to have access to and wear eye protection in the workplace if they are at risk for eye injuries. They are also required to follow certain safety guidelines in the workplace.

In offices that have a lens edger or in finishing labs, workers are required to have what? What else should be made available? There should also be the availability of what in areas where particles, caustic, or harmful chemicals are used?

Answer 20

In offices that have a lens edger or in finishing labs, workers are required to have access to and wear safety goggles, which should be made of impact-resistant material like polycarbonate. The safety glasses can be either prescription or non-prescription. Face shields and full-face respirators should also be made available. There should also be the availability of eye wash stations or bottles of eye wash in areas where particles, caustic, or harmful chemicals are used.

Question 21

Product liability

Answer 21

Product liability occurs when a product doesn’t perform up to specified standards. For instance, a manufacturer may be held liable if a frame that’s designated as impact-resistant breaks when it shouldn’t.

Question 22

Negligence

Answer 22

Negligence occurs when a professional is careless. For instance, an optician might fail to recommend the right material for a pair of glasses, fail to describe the dangers of lenses that aren’t impact-resistant, or fail to verify that the lab used the right materials in a pair of safety glasses.

Question 23

When people do have problems with their eyewear, lawsuits commonly arise from what?

Answer 23

When people do have problems with their eyewear, lawsuits commonly arise from product liability or negligence

Question 24

How can you avoid negligent errors?

Answer 24

If you do your job right, you can avoid negligent errors. Be sure to double-check your work, verify the lenses you receive, and educate your clients about using and caring for their eyewear. And finally, document every recommendation you make. Careful paperwork can protect both you and your client!

Question 25

The ANSI Z87.1 standard establishes requirements for what? What does this include?

Answer 25

The ANSI Z87.1 standard establishes requirements for the design, construction, testing, and use of eye protection devices. This includes requirements for safety glasses, goggles, and face shields.

Question 26

The standard for ANSI Z80.1 are the standard tolerances for what?

Answer 26

The standard for ANSIZ80.1 are the standard tolerances for dress lenses.

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT Memorize the standard tolerances as your prepare to take your exams. You will be tested on this information. These standards are updated every few years, so be sure to check for up to date information. As of 12/20/21, the 2020 quick reference guide linked below is the most recent ANSI Z80.0 standard tolerances.

Refer to the following document:

https://thevisioncouncil.org/sites/default/files/assets/media/ANSI_Z80-1-2020_QuickReferenceGuide.pdf

Question 27

ANSI standards are updated how often? When was the most recent (FYI these note cards were written in 2021)? Some of these standards include what?

Answer 27

The standards are updated about every four to five years, and the most recent occurred in 2018. Some of these standards include minimum thickness for prescription lenses as well as tolerance margins for the power (sphere, cylinder, and axes) of prescription lenses, magnifiers, and reading glasses, including prism.

Question 28

The Z87.1 section of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) defines testing standards what? With regard to ophthalmic lenses, the standards ensure what?

Answer 28

The Z87.1 section of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) defines testing standards for equipment used in all types of businesses. With regard to ophthalmic lenses, the standards ensure that face and eye protective lenses achieve a specific quality level of safety from dust, small particles, impact, radiation, or splash issues.

Question 29

ANSI Z87.1 lays out requirements for safety eyewear in these areas

Answer 29

The glasses must provide sufficient protection against the hazards they’re designed to protect against.

The glasses must be reasonably comfortable and fit securely, without interfering with movement or vision.

The glasses should be easy to clean, and people should be able to disinfect them if necessary.

The glasses should be durable.

The glasses should fit over or incorporate prescription eyewear.

Question 30

T/F? Impact resistance for a regular lens (also called a dress lens) isn’t the same as impact resistance for safety eyewear.

Answer 30

True. Impact resistance for a regular lens (also called a dress lens) isn’t the same as impact resistance for safety eyewear. As you can guess, the requirements are much stiffer for safety lenses.

Question 31

There are two levels of impact resistance for safety lenses. What are they are how are they marked?

Answer 31

There are two levels of impact resistance for safety lenses: basic impact (marked with the manufacturer’s logo) and high impact (marked with the manufacturer’s logo and a + sign).

Question 32

High-impact safety lenses must be able to withstand what?

Answer 32

High-impact safety lenses must be able to withstand an impact from a quarter-inch steel ball travelling at high velocity (150 feet per second).

Question 33

Plastic dress lenses only need to pass the drop ball test mentioned in an earlier lesson. An acceptable lens must withstand what?

Answer 33

Plastic dress lenses only need to pass the drop ball test mentioned in an earlier lesson. An acceptable lens must withstand the five-eighth-inch steel ball test, weighing 0.56 ounces from a height of 50 inches.

Question 34

Basic-impact non-prescription safety lenses have to pass the same drop ball test. However, they have to withstand an impact from a ball that’s how big in diameter?

Answer 34

Basic-impact non-prescription safety lenses have to pass the same drop ball test. However, they have to withstand an impact from a ball that’s one inch in diameter. As long as a non-prescription plastic lens meets this requirement—regardless of its center thickness— the FDA considers it impact-resistant.

Question 35

Glass isn’t used for safety lenses. However, it can be used for dress lenses that qualify as basic-impact safety lenses. To qualify for this use, glass lenses must be what?

Answer 35

To qualify for this use, glass lenses must be hardened, or tempered, in addition to passing the drop ball test.

Question 36

There are two methods of lens tempering, what are they? To determine if a glass lens has been hardened or tempered, you’ll need to look at it through what? What pattern should you see?

Answer 36

There are two methods of lens tempering: heat and chemical. To determine if a glass lens has been hardened or tempered, you’ll need to look at it through a polariscope or polarizing filters. You should see a characteristic Maltese-cross pattern.

Question 37

Prescription safety glasses should have what trademark? True safety eyewear should have what?

Answer 37

Prescription safety glasses should have a Z87-2 trademark. True safety eyewear should have a safety frame, safety lenses, and side shields.

Question 38

Tests for safety glasses include testing lenses and frames for what? Only after passing these rigorous tests will products be labelled ANSI Z87.1-rated eyewear.

Answer 38

Tests for safety glasses include testing lenses and frames for impact resistance, as well as against exposure to radiation, chemicals, corrosion, and flammables. Only after passing these rigorous tests will products be labelled ANSI Z87.1-rated eyewear.

Refer to the following document:
https://www.thevisioncouncil.org/sites/default/files/TVC_ANSI_Z87-1_2015_Overview_v2.pdf

Question 39

Although the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does consider spectacle frames, lenses, readers, and sunglasses medical devices, the FDA does not require that these items be what before marketing them?

What does the FDA require?

Answer 39

Although the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does consider spectacle frames, lenses, readers, and sunglasses medical devices, the FDA does not require that these items be FDA-certified for safety and effectiveness before marketing them.

The FDA does require:

U.S. and foreign manufacturers register their company with the FDA.

U.S. importers register their company with the FDA.

All manufacturers must list their products with the FDA and meet quality system requirements.

Sunglasses and spectacle lenses must be impact resistant according to the 5/8-inch steel ball impact test.

Question 40

For opticians and those who work in the eye care industry, contact lenses and contact lens packaging should be recycled. However, it does not include what?

Answer 40

For opticians and those who work in the eye care industry, contact lenses and contact lens packaging should be recycled. However, it does not include the excess materials from cutting and edging lenses in optical labs.

Question 41

Why are privacy and confidentiality so important?

Answer 41

Why are privacy and confidentiality so important? Think about this: Patients in an eye doctor’s office may have anything from simple eye infections to eye problems related to AIDS or cancer. If you reveal private information about their health to the wrong person—for instance, a boss or ex-spouse—the consequences could be devastating to them.

Question 42

Protecting patients’ privacy is one of your most important jobs. Any office you work in will have its own policies for complying with HIPAA rules. The important thing to remember is to ask about these rules and make sure you fully understand them. And always, always, be careful to keep confidential information away from prying eyes. What are some examples?

Answer 42

Keep your records in a secure place where visitors and patients can’t see them.

If you use a computer, clear the screen when you leave your desk and lock the computer. Never leave your password where other people can find it easily. (For example, don’t tape it to the bottom of your keyboard!)

When you leave a message for a patient, never include information about the patient’s condition, test results, or medications. Simply note that you have a message for the patient, and ask the person to return your call.

Never mention private information about patients in an area where other patients can overhear you.

Question 43

It’s important to follow HIPAA rules for our patients’ sakes. Moreover, medical offices that violate HIPAA laws can receive what? So be sure you comply with these laws—and if you’re ever in doubt, ask before you give out information!

Answer 43

It’s important to follow HIPAA rules for our patients’ sakes. Moreover, medical offices that violate HIPAA laws can receive stiff fines from the government. So be sure you comply with these laws—and if you’re ever in doubt, ask before you give out information!

Refer to this document:
https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/guidance/minimum-necessary-requirement/index.html

Question 44

Minimum standard for HIPAA compliance (also called the privacy rule)

Answer 44

Requires covered entities to evaluate their practices and enhance safeguards as needed to limit unnecessary or inappropriate access to and disclosure of protected health information