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Core subject 4 : Optical appliances

The core subject for both dispensing opticians and optometrists is the same. However, as may be seen by the categories below, there is a different emphasis for each of the professions.

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Dispensing Opticians

The ability to dispense an appropriate optical appliance.

The ability to dispense optical low vision aids.

Optometrists

The ability to prescribe and to dispense appropriate optical appliances.

The ability to advise on the use of, and to dispense simple low vision aids including: hand and stand magnifiers, typoscopes and hand-held telescopes

 An understanding of the application of complex low vision aids, such as spectacle-mounted telescopes, CCTV.

Common LVA problems

It is very important that when issuing a low vision aid clear explanation of the use of the aid is given. It is also useful to be fully aware of the levels of magnification gained so that the patient expectations may be realisable.

One of the commonest reasons for an aid being rejected or simply locked away in a drawer is that it is used inappropriately. An excellent example of the potential pitfalls is to think about a hand magnifier. This may seem the simplest of optical appliances and yet it is often poorly prescribed or wrongly used.

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