If we be so concerned with competency

[chip anderson]

If we are so concerned with competency why don't all of us submitt all the questions and tests we feel should be required of opticians. Not the simple answer of party in college for a year or two and attend class now and the. But what should we know, how should we be able demonstrate it?
Everyone on Optiboards and anywhere else we can get information from, submitt it here. Then we can sort through for duplications and the like, complain about what's too easy, what's too hard. Submitt it to the ABO and see if we can actually get them to take some action.
While I don't think a BS is the answer, I surely don't agree that multiple choice shows much of anything. I can probably get 70% on any subject where multiple choice is the foremat. I can probably get 10~25% on mathmatical optics that Harry C, or Der Miester can ace.

So here's the thread, start submitting questions and test. Yes, things like hands on frame repair soldering, neutralization are all fair. This doesn't have to be (and I don't think it should be) a paper test.

Chip

[Scrumblydumpus]

just to get the ball rolling:

putting a few frames into standard alignment
adjusting a few frames
marking up and identifying PALs
neutralizing all sorts of lenses, massive prism, bifocals, PALs, etc
taking other frame/lens measurements

proctoring a test with so many variables like this on a national level would be extremely difficult. But definitely worth doing.

thats just off the top of my head, I will post a few more later.

[chip anderson]

.
1) Give candidate six randomly selected pairs of spectacles. Have neutralize with a manual lensometer (focometer) and a ruler. Should include one pair of spherical bifocals. One pair of aphakic bifocals. One pair of progressive bifocals. One pair if very high cylinder spectacles. One pair of low cylinder spectacles. Neutralization should show, optical centers, segment heights, powers in principal meridians an add powers. One pair of spectacles with enough prism to not be a mear P.D. displacement.
2) Give candidate two pairs of spectacles that have been straightened to a state of non-adjustment, candidate must adjust to at least one other candidate head for each frame.
3) Give candidate disassembled frames and lenses. must assemble:
Compression drill mount, screw drill mount, grooved rimless, conventional full metal eyewire and plastic frame.
4) Be able to convert powers to focal lengths.
5) Define ABBE.
6) Define all types of aberration. Be shown lenses with abberration and be able to identify same.
7) Weld a broken temple and polish to origional smoothness. Repair a broken nose pad strut.
8) Identify base curve, power, optical zone of a rigid contact lens with radiuscope, keratometer, measuring magnifier and thickness gauge.

More to follow, supper's ready

[rbaker]

Lenses

1. What is a lens?
2. Give three characteristics of a plus lens?
3. Give three characteristics of a minus lens?
4. What is a meniscus lens?
5. What is a prism?
6. What are two metrics used to measure the power of a prism?
7. What is a one piece bifocal?

[scriptfiller]

This steams me...

One must be able to correctly re-mark-up a PAL. Dots in the center of the laser engravings, correct MRP distance, I love it when I get a job back that the HT has been "made incorrectly" only to find out the person who marked it up, say an Image, used a Varilux template.

Also, when fitting PAL's determining cut-out. I just love it when I get a 65 A frame DBL 20 with a 70 ED and a DPD of 54, and a 45 B with a HT of 30.

[EyeFitWell]

Resolving Prism
Compound Prism
Splitting Prism
Reading Prism in PAL's
Surface and Finish a lens in a drill mount, string mount, metal, plastic, and inline
Adjust nosepads for noncaucasian bridges (!!!)

[Roy R. Ferguson]

The following are progressive lenses topics that are tested in the practical exam I administer. The numbers following the topic reflects the percentage of candidates missing that question. I thought you might find this interesting.

Roy

neutralize the distance portion of the lenses 38
determine the add power 14
measure the base curve 28
identify the product name using the hidden identifying logo 07
identify the manufacturer’s recommended minimum height 10
measure fitting cross height 31
measure prism reference point height 38
measure prism thinning 35
analyze the lenses for unwanted vertical prism 41
measure monocular P.D. 38