Novice Reading List

[Kurt Brandon]

I recently was hired as an Optical Lab Technician at a firm that fills eyeglass prescriptions.

Is there a recommended reading list for such as me? I am strictly a novice.

Thanks,

Kurt

[Jeff Trail]

Back when I first started out one of the "old" guys had an old B&L handbook.. if you skip the part about how we "block" lens with pitch .. :) ... it covers the basics in optics that made it very easy to understand..

There are a couple of online book shops where I found thay had copies of this book..

I made the mistake of "loaning" mine out and needless to say they loaned it to someone and then passed it along..so it's probably in the bottom of someone file cabinet... Another little tip, besides learning the basic formula's and processes we go through try to get your hands on copies of Review of Optom or Review of Ophth.
It helps to understand it all as a big picture, the physical lens, the optics and the pathology.. sure helps out.
I'll go through my books when I get home and can tell you a few titles to go out and search for..

Jeff "grind em if ya got'em" T.

[karen]

hey everybody, what's that blue book called...System of opthalmic dispensing??? Lots of good info that is not necessarily lab related but very optics related

[Shwing]

Hiya, all. I've been away a while, family (I had to see dead people) stuff.

Anyway, yes, the blue bible is wonderful, and almost 40% is conducive to current dispensing.

There are many items one may peruse, but if one is retail inclined, I would suggest basics in psychology or humanities.

Regardless, it is like the computer. The first 3 months were Hell. Now, I can find the 'back' and 'backspace' button without customer support;-}

Learning how to deal with people, regardless of your vocation, is one of the basics tools you need in life, let alone your trade.

For now.

------------------
Shwing;-}

[lguess]

Jeff,

I think you were referring to B & L's old publication called "Job Coach". I too had one and it got swiped by some former employees. It was outdated, but covered a lot of basic theory. I miss it badly, and if any of you Optiboarders out there have one I would be most happy to purchase same...

[Jeff Trail]

Larry,

Yep thats the one.. :) .. I know they are really hard to get a hold of and I did find a few on-line sights that dealt with books who had copies or you could place an order and they would find you one..
Alot of the "procedures" were out dated but it is chalked full of explanations of about every aspect of optics you can think of.
Another one I was looking for was theories on base curves by Robert Tyllier but still havn't found that one.. I also used to have a copy and somewhere along the line it has been misplaced .. I had a whole crate of optical books that got lost somewhere a few by Fresnel (pretty old) but still very interesting.. Even had a few on the "science" of refracting that were published in the 30's.. it was more of a collectors type item but it was interesting reading ....
If I can find that web sight address (which I can't seem to find at this time :) )
I'll be sure and post it.. they had tons of medical books on everything from the coachmans manual to pathology...
I know my wife hated me finding it... but my credit card company loved it

Jeff " always buying .. so it seems" Trail

[Judy Canty]

Kurt,
Let me give you 3 recommendations to get you started:
"Understanding Lens Surfacing" by Clifford Brooks
"Essentials for Ophthalmic Lens Work" by Clifford Brooks
"Optical Formulas Tutorial" by Ellen Stoner and Patricia Perkins.
These 3 should give you a firm foundation in ophthalmic lens work.