Slab Off Questions

**Matt.P** · 03-12-2013, 08:46 AM

I ordered a bifocal Rx with slab off and accidentally ordered the slab off in the wrong eye. If i were to still dispense it, would the patient still be able to adapt to it? Or is it not worth trying at all?

I'll apologize in advance for those of you who will frown upon me for trying to get by with a mistake rather than just reordering it. Just wanted to know for personal knowledge. And there's nothing wrong with trying to save a buck if there's no harm done.

Update: Thanks guys. I appreciate in the insight! Problem solved!

**PRECISIONLAB** · 03-12-2013, 08:52 AM

I'm sure your lab corrected for slab off in the proper eye. Did you varify prism balance in seg? If not REDO since prism would be added in wrong direction compounding diplopia issues

**drk** · 03-12-2013, 09:21 AM

If you did make a mistake, it would cause extreme diplopia on downgaze, and the patient's eyes would pop out of their head and roll across the floor.

**Robert Martellaro** · 03-12-2013, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by Matt.P

I ordered a bifocal Rx with slab off and accidentally ordered the slab off in the wrong eye.

They might have used a reverse slab-off. Is that what happened? Post the details.

If i were to still dispense it, would the patient still be able to adapt to it? Or is it not worth trying at all? I'll apologize in advance for those of you who will frown upon me for trying to get by with a mistake rather than just reordering it. Just wanted to know for personal knowledge. And there's nothing wrong with trying to save a buck if there's no harm done.

It would be a grievous error if the prism was in the wrong direction. If true, it's likely that there will be temporary harm, i.e. fatigue or diplopia at near. It would be unethical to dispense the eyeglasses. Do not do it.

**optical24/7** · 03-12-2013, 09:38 AM

ANY lab worth a hoot would catch your mistake in a New York minute. It's pretty basic knowledge in the lab that slabs go on the strongest minus/weakest plus unless it's a reverse slab, then the opposite applies.

**Uncle Fester** · 03-12-2013, 10:10 AM

I'd suggest in the future just writing in special instructions "slab off" and let the lab do the calculation and placement.

To further your optics education and see why slab off prism on the wrong lens will never work read this discussion from the early days of Optiboard.

http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...ally-Necesaary

Also, you may want to read the courses offered by Darryl Meister on the forum "Opticampus" on the home page if you're thinking of sticking around in the profession.