Free National Opticianry Competency Exam (NOCE) Laws, Regulations, and Standards Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An optician in a busy dispensary is overheard discussing the specific details of a patient's high-diopter, prismatic prescription with a colleague in an area where other customers can easily listen in. This action is most likely a violation of which federal regulation?
- The FTC Eyeglass Rule
- The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) (Correct answer)
- The FDA Medical Device Regulation
- The ANSI Z80.1 Standards
Correct answer: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule protects all individually identifiable health information, including prescription details. Discussing this information in a public space where it can be overheard by unauthorized individuals is a breach of patient privacy.
Question 2: A patient completes their eye examination and the optometrist presents them with a bill. The patient asks for a copy of their new prescription to shop for glasses elsewhere. The office manager states it is their policy to only release the prescription after the patient has purchased eyewear from their optical. This policy is in direct violation of which rule?
- The Contact Lens Rule
- State Opticianry Board Scope of Practice
- The FTC Eyeglass Rule (Correct answer)
- The HIPAA Patient's Right to Access
Correct answer: The FTC Eyeglass Rule
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Eyeglass Rule requires prescribers to provide the patient with a copy of their spectacle prescription immediately after the eye exam is completed. They cannot charge an extra fee for it or condition its release on the purchase of eyewear.
Question 3: An optician is verifying a pair of safety glasses for a construction worker. To ensure the lenses meet the highest standard for protection against flying debris, what marking must be present on the lens according to the ANSI Z87.1 standard?
- S
- Z87-2
- H
- + (Correct answer)
Correct answer: +
According to the ANSI Z87.1 standard, the '+' symbol indicates that the lens has passed the high-velocity and high-mass impact tests. A lens simply marked 'Z87' only meets the basic impact standard.
Question 4: A third-party online contact lens seller sends a valid verification request to a prescriber's office at 10:00 AM on a Tuesday. The office is busy and does not respond. According to the FTC Contact Lens Rule's 'passive verification' provision, what is the status of this order at 10:00 AM on Wednesday?
- The prescription is considered verified, and the seller can ship the order. (Correct answer)
- The order is cancelled, and the seller must inform the patient.
- The seller must wait an additional 24 hours before taking any action.
- The prescriber is automatically fined for non-response.
Correct answer: The prescription is considered verified, and the seller can ship the order.
The FTC Contact Lens Rule states that if a prescriber does not respond to a valid verification request within eight business hours, the prescription is considered 'passively verified,' and the seller is permitted to fill and ship the order.
Question 5: While specific regulations vary by state, which of the following tasks is almost universally considered outside the legal scope of practice for a dispensing optician?
- Measuring a patient's pupillary distance.
- Performing a refraction to determine a new prescription. (Correct answer)
- Fitting and adjusting a patient's new eyeglass frames.
- Neutralizing a lens in a lensometer to verify its power.
Correct answer: Performing a refraction to determine a new prescription.
The scope of practice for a dispensing optician involves interpreting and filling a valid prescription written by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist. Performing a refraction, which is the clinical examination to determine the eye's refractive error and write a prescription, is restricted to optometrists and ophthalmologists.
Question 6: Under FDA regulation 21 CFR 801.410, most dress eyewear lenses must be impact-resistant. What is the name of the standard procedure used to test the impact resistance of an individual prescription glass lens?
- The Rockwell Hardness Test
- The High-Velocity Impact Test
- The Drop Ball Test (Correct answer)
- The Chemical Tempering Test
Correct answer: The Drop Ball Test
FDA regulation 21 CFR 801.410 specifies the impact resistance requirement for spectacle lenses. The standard method described for this is the 'drop ball test,' which involves dropping a 5/8-inch steel ball from a height of 50 inches onto the lens.
Free National Opticianry Competency Exam (NOCE) Laws, Regulations, and Standards Questions and Answers
An optician in a busy dispensary is overheard discussing the specific details of a patient's high-diopter, prismatic prescription with a colleague in an area where other customers can easily listen in.
This action is most likely a violation of which federal regulation?