NOCE / ABO Basic case studies
NOCE / ABO Basic · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The ABO Basic certification, administered through the American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners (ABO-NCLE), is the entry-level credential for opticians in the United States. It signals that a dispenser has demonstrated a broad working knowledge of ophthalmic optics and the practical tasks of the trade - reading a prescription, selecting and fitting eyewear, verifying finished lenses, and adjusting a frame to a patient's face. The NOCE / ABO Basic case studies are 5 cases and about 3,677 words.
1The 4 mm Frame Swap: Vertex Distance, Not the Prescription
A 34-year-old software developer has worn the same prescription for three years: OD −8.00 −0.75 × 180, OS −1.25 −0.50 × 180. His old metal frame measured a 12 mm vertex distance and he had no complaints.
752 words, about 4 min2Minimum Blank Size, Induced Prism, and a Progressive in a Shallow Frame
A 58-year-old woman selects a metal frame marked A 54, DBL 18, B 34, ED 58, temple 140. Her monocular PDs are 33/31 (64 total).
708 words, about 4 min3A Progressive That Slides: Fit Problem or Design Problem?
A 71-year-old first-time progressive wearer collects a metal frame with adjustable nose pads and skull temples. His Rx is +1.50 −0.50 × 180 with a +2.25 add; fitting height was set at 22 mm with the frame properly fitted in the office.
751 words, about 4 min4Toric Soft Lens: K Readings, Rotation, and Sport
A 28-year-old softball player with no previous lens wear presents with keratometry of 43.00 @ 180 and 44.50 @ 090, refraction −2.00 −1.25 × 180 at a 12 mm vertex, HVID 12.0 mm. She wants monthly soft lenses for sport.
661 words, about 3 min5A Child at −9.50: Thickness, Frame Size, and Impact Resistance
A 9-year-old boy has worn −9.50 DS OU since he was six. His current glasses are CR-39 in a metal frame with a 50 mm eye size and a +2.00 front base; the edges measure about 10 mm thick, the finished pair weighs 38 g, and the lenses are badly scratched.
805 words, about 4 min