Foreword

This Part of BS 2738 has been prepared by Technical Committee CH/172. BS 2738‑3:2004+A1:2008 supersedes BS 2738‑3:2004, which is withdrawn.

The original version of BS 2738‑3 was based on Appendix A of BS 3521‑1:1962 and BS 3521‑2:1962, which were withdrawn on the publication of BS 3521‑1:1991 and BS 3521‑2:1991. It updated both the content and the presentation of that appendix to accord with current practice. The method described applies not only to the writing of prescriptions for ophthalmic lenses by the prescriber (i.e. optometrist, ophthalmologist or ophthalmic medical practitioner), but also to the writing of the prescription order by which the dispenser can order the correct spectacle lenses from the manufacturer or supplier.

The current edition includes the method for writing prescription orders for multifocal and progressive power lenses. It also describes the necessary information required when ordering uncut lenses; this type of order is much more common than in 1991 when the previous edition was published.

The greater detail in this edition is a response to the continuing difficulties faced by the manufacturing ophthalmic industry, which has to query a significant proportion of orders received, at a cost of both time and money. It is hoped that this standard will be read not only by dispensing opticians, optometrists, ophthalmologists and ophthalmic medical practitioners, but also by their ancillary staff who commonly write or copy prescriptions or prescription orders.

This revision endorses the policy adopted by the industry of designating non-integral values for focal power with two digits after the decimal point. A small number of prescription houses prefer to use absorptance, rather than a transmittance value, when a tint is ordered, so this and the use of numerical values have been included despite being deprecated.

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

Amendments issued since publication

Amd. No.	Date	Comments
15234 Corrigendum No. 1	6 July 2004	Correction to title page and inside front cover
A1	30 May 2008	See foreword

In particular, attention is drawn to the following statutory regulations.

The Sight Testing (Examination and Prescription) (No. 2) Regulations 1989 [1]

BS 2738-3:2004+A1:2008

Spectacle lenses - Specification for the presentation of prescriptions and prescription orders for ophthalmic lenses

Current

Published:

22 Jun 2004