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Refraction training manual

18. Spectacle dispensing

• It is very important to select a suitable size of frame for the patient. The PS 80 frame (CBM standard) comes in several sizes to help manage this.

• You must always state the patient’s pupillary distance (PD) and near centration distance (CD, otherwise called the near PD) on the order. Although this is not normally a problem, in higher powers and bifocals it is essential.

• Choice of lens is fairly limited, but you need to know the advantages and disadvantages of bifocals, in order to offer the patient the best possible correction.

• The side length needs to be adjusted to make the glasses fit the patient on collection.

• Order writing MUST be clear. Remember the correct notation.

• Avoid large frames if the prescription is big as the glasses will be heavy and the lenses much thicker.

• If a patient has two pairs of glasses (distance and reading) it is useful to supply different colour frames to help identify what the glasses are for.