Spectacle dispensing in children

Question 1

what must you need to be in order to dispense children

Answer 1

GOC registered

Question 2

name the three do’s of effective communication

Answer 2

• DO explain the procedure to parents beforehand
• DO talk directly to the child especially if they are at a communicating age
• DO use toys and gadgets which will help keep the child’s attention

Question 3

what is a don’t in effective communication and why is this

Answer 3

Don’t rush take your time to get it right

because a child won’t complain if the frames aren’t right fit for them

Question 4

how should you communicate when dispensing a child that is from birth up till 36 months

Answer 4

by referring to the parent

e.g. if they prefer to put the glasses on the child then let them, or if they prefer for us to put them on

Question 5

at what age will a child start to ask questions and what should you do

Answer 5

3-6 years old

engage with the child and answer their questions and communicate less with the parents

Question 6

what should you when you dispense to avoid a child getting bored

Answer 6

try to do the paperwork afterwards once the patient has gone

Question 7

list 4 things you must be aware of when dispensing older children from 12 - 18 years old and 4 things that you can do

Answer 7

Be aware of:
- Bullying of spectacle wearers

• Peer/family pressure
• Body image issues
• Awareness of visual ‘disadvantage’

You can:
- Talk to your patient

• Reassure them about appearance
• Reinforce benefits of wearing spectacles
• Take your time

Question 8

what is more important than the colour and style of a frame

Answer 8

a frame that fits well

Question 9

what can you do if there is too much choice

Answer 9

Narrow selection down according to fit/size

Let child make the final choice

Question 10

which type of frames are best suited for infants and toddlers

Answer 10

Soft plastic frames ideal for comfort

Question 11

which type of frames are least suitable for infants and toddlers and why

Answer 11

metal frames
they are less comfortable as young infants dont have a fully formed nose bridge so theres nothing for the notepads to sit on, therefore they slide down the face

Question 12

which type of frames are least suitable for older children and why

Answer 12

More brittle plastics tend to break

Be aware in active children

Question 13

which type of frame are best suited for older children and why

Answer 13

Metal frames

more robust and can be reshaped when damaged

Question 14

list 5 suppliers of specialist frames

Answer 14

• Tomato frames
• Zoobug
• Centrostyle active soft
• Norville
• Mira flex USA

Question 15

what is the advantage of tomato frames

Answer 15

they have adjustable side lengths so can pull in and out as the child grows

Question 16

list 6 features that specialist frames have

Answer 16

• Spring joints
• Soft on skin/non irritant
• Grip on back/ strap
• Adjustable length to bend
• Soft nose pads
• Variant bridge sizes

Question 17

why are grip on back/straps used for children’s spectacles

Answer 17

for children who tend to pull their glasses off, so it makes sure the child is looking through the lens and also for active kids

Question 18

what are the 2 types of specialist sports/safety eyewear used by kids

Answer 18

• Swimming goggles

- Ski goggles

Question 19

list 4 possible frame side options/accessories

Answer 19

• sprung sides
• curl sides
• slip stops
• loop end sides (tie on)

Question 20

what is the advantage of sprung sides

Answer 20

Right handed children will damage the left side if the side is not sprung
as children can use one hand to remove their spectacles

Question 21

what is the disadvantage of sprung sides

Answer 21

a broken sprung side is difficult, if not impossible to repair

Question 22

what are curl sides and which type of children are they good for

Answer 22

• Can be fitted onto any metal frame
• Silicon covering
• Rest along back of ear

Provides good fitting option for younger children who try to pull their glasses off, so it keeps them in place and makes sure the child is looking through the lenses

Question 23

what is an advantage of curl sides

Answer 23

they’re cost effective

as the child is not breaking them as often

Question 24

what are slip stops and what are they useful for

Answer 24

rubber parts that slip onto the end of glasses to stop them from slipping off
useful for active children and when parents aren’t sure about the fit

Question 25

what are Loop end sides (tie-on)

Answer 25

sides which you can tie a ribbon on them | its an old style and lots of new styles are out now

Question 26

name three types of spectacle bridge options that can be used for infants and toddlers

Answer 26

- moulded frame - saddle bridge - strap bridge

Question 27

what is a saddle bridge and under what condition will it be suitable

Answer 27

- one piece of plastic that goes around the bridge | - the bridge should conform to child’s nose if not the frames will slip off

Question 28

what is a strap bridge and under what condition will it be suitable

Answer 28

- nose pads that are joined into one | - the nose must be big enough as it needs something to grip onto, it is good for slightly oder children

Question 29

list 2 advantages of the strap bridge

Answer 29

- Absorbs impact | - Needs less frequent adjustment

Question 30

what can be changed of a nose pad

Answer 30

the size, e.g. if its too big, you can change it to smaller ones on the same frame

Question 31

what is essential when fitting a frame on a child and why

Answer 31

- checking the length to bend - to avoid sore ears, because children won't complain about poor fitting frames, they just won't wear them = poor compliance

Question 32

which lens material must never be dispensed for children, and under what condition may it be dispensed

Answer 32

- glass | - only may be appropriate for high myopia if requested by the parent if they use glass lenses too

Question 33

which lens material is always dispensed for children

Answer 33

resin

Question 34

which lens materials is usually dispensed for children

Answer 34

- CR39 | - Trivex

Question 35

list 4 reasons why polycarbonate/trivex lenses are dispensed for children

Answer 35

- Light weight - Impact resistant 10x more than plastic/glass - Good ‘V’ value - blocks 100% UV

Question 36

how can you make it easy to take measurements on a child

Answer 36

- keep the child's attention by getting down to their level i.e. kneel down or put child on a chair ``` - Use tricks to attract their attention Look into my purple eye Toy on tip of your pen Statues Praise ```

Question 37

list 4 ways methods of measuring a child's pd's

Answer 37

- Inner limbus to outer limbus - Pupil centre to pupil centre - Inner canthus to outer cants - on a sleeping baby: estimate distance between corneal bulge, centre to centre

Question 38

how can you measure pd's on a child with strabismus

Answer 38

use an occluder to cover the fixing eye in order for the child to focus with their strabismic eye

Question 39

how are bifocal heights set when dispensing children and which type of bifocal seg should be used

Answer 39

- Set at lower pupil NOT lower limbus Avoid ‘missing’ the sen and making sure they look through it - Use large ‘D’ seg

Question 40

when must you consider measuring BVD on a child

Answer 40

when choosing frames for children with high Rx | same as an adult

Question 41

what happens to the power of a plus lens as it moves away from the eye

Answer 41

less plus as lens moves away from eye

Question 42

what happens to the power of a plus lens as it moves closer to the eye

Answer 42

becomes more plus

Question 43

what happens to the power of a minus lens as it moves towards the eye

Answer 43

becomes less minus

Question 44

who is the GOC3 "yellow form" form used for

Answer 44

- Children under age 16 | - Aged 16, 17 or 18 and in full time education

Question 45

when may you still need to charge a patient for glasses who are using the GOS3 form

Answer 45

when spectacles cost more that the voucher value

Question 46

in which 3 cases does the small glasses supplement found on the GOS3 form apply

Answer 46

- Spectacles for a child under 7 years of age - Spectacle frame with boxed centre of no more than 55mm - Custom made or stock spectacle frame which requires “extensive adaptation” to ensure an accurate fit i. e. on specialist frames that are a bit more expensive e.g. the moulded type so can make an extra claim to help cover cost of the glasses

Question 47

which form used for repairs and replacements of glasses and who can it be used on

Answer 47

- GOS4 - for children under age of 16 used to repair or replace before next appointment

Question 48

what is the GOS4 repair and replacement form not used for

Answer 48

a spare pair of glasses