Settle an argument, lab opticians.

[drk]

Do optical laboratories have outside regulation?

OSHA? Sure?
EPA? Probably?

But what about regulating the finished product?
Optical dispensing boards? Seems unlikely as you do not dispense.
FDA? I know they're nutty about dropping steel balls. Do they visit?

But, in the realest sense, True or False: the dispenser is the primary if not sole external regulator of the products that come out of optical labs. That's the system, right?

(I know that internal regulation is king, but I'm speaking about external regulation.)

Thanks!

[Chris Ryser]

But what about regulating the finished product?

But, in the realest sense, True or False: the dispenser is the primary if not sole external regulator of the products that come out of optical labs.

The answer is true: the dispenser is the final judge.

Anybody that can afford to set up an optical lab can do so, no experience needed whatsoever. However it is good to have some employees with good experience to do some quality work.

In Europe there is one more optical profession, that is called instrument optician, which are the guys that make lenses.

[lensmanmd]

Do optical laboratories have outside regulation?

But, in the realest sense, True or False: the dispenser is the primary if not sole external regulator of the products that come out of optical labs. That's the system, right?

(I know that internal regulation is king, but I'm speaking about external regulation.)

Thanks!

Yup, no ANSI police. The dispenser is the primary, but not the sole regulator. Final word on ANSI compliance rest on mine, and a select team of highly qualified inspectors' shoulders. I can't speak for all, but I'm sure that many labs have similar controls in place.

[Kujiradesu]

Do optical laboratories have outside regulation?

OSHA? Sure?
EPA? Probably?

But what about regulating the finished product?
Optical dispensing boards? Seems unlikely as you do not dispense.
FDA? I know they're nutty about dropping steel balls. Do they visit?

But, in the realest sense, True or False: the dispenser is the primary if not sole external regulator of the products that come out of optical labs. That's the system, right?

(I know that internal regulation is king, but I'm speaking about external regulation.)

Thanks!

In NJ/NY where I work the final arbiter is the dispensing optician. The state boards regulate the opticians.

As far as the labs themselves, they're supposed to be batch testing everything. For power, axis, impact resistance, basically everything. Is this actually being done? Maybe. If regulators went in and inspected the operations they would find all records as they should be. Sign-offs on the appropriate checks for every 1000 pairs of lenses (or whatever its actually supposed to be). My experience tells a different story, I would say 20% (approx) of all work received from my national labs (i.e. the lab is not in NJ/NY) come back with some issue that does not pass muster. Off-axis and unprescribed prism being the primary culprits. Some of that 20% can be saved, but my point is that that number would be dramatically lower if the appropriate checks were being enacted at the lab level. Just a guess, I think its because in most cases the lenses are not being looked at by an actual person (likely a digital lensmeter or robot).

[Quince]

Since this is to settle an argument, I take it there is a believer in the ANSI police? Just think- if only we could sic them on the onliners!