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Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (Last Updated: June 14,2023) |
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Title20 Professional and Occupational Licensing, Certification |
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SubTitle20-141-1_20-141-31. Commission of Opticians |
| Sec. 20-141-1. Experience in the producing and mounting of ophthalmic lenses |
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Experience in producing and mounting ophthalmic glasses is a combination of education and skill in both mechanical functions and technical knowledge. Thus, such experience refers to theoretical knowledge, education and practical training, skill and proficiency in all functions related to the required mechanical and technical knowledge pertaining to the producing and reproducing of ophthalmic lenses and kindred products to given formulas. The producing and mounting of ophthalmic glasses is defined as the operations of grinding, fining, polishing, truing, molding, casting or other surfacing processes, as well as the operations of edging, cutting, forming, shaping, positioning, fastening and molding or other mounting processes. |
| Sec. 20-141-2. Experience in the fitting of ophthalmic lenses to the eyes by mechanical manipulation |
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Experience in the fitting of ophthalmic lenses by mechanical manipulation, molding technique or other related functions is a combination of education and skill in both the mechanical functions and technical knowledge. Thus, such experience refers to theoretical knowledge, education and practical training, skill and proficiency in all functions related to the required mechanical and technical knowledge pertaining to the theory and practice of fitting, adapting and designing of optical glasses from given formulas or kindred products directly to the ultimate wearer by mechanical manipulation, molding techniques or other related functions. The fitting, adapting and designing or ophthalmic glasses is defined as comprising the techniques and art of forming, shaping, bending, adjusting and molding or other fitting processes as they may be required and the scientific and technical interpretation of ophthalmic prescriptions into a correctly constructed therapeutic device as an optician's personal function of dispensing optical glasses directly to the person of the ultimate wearer; as well as the measuring, fitting and adapting of prostheses and the molding, casting or fitting of contact lenses. |
| Sec. 20-141-3. [Repealed] |
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Repealed June 16, 1982. |
| Sec. 20-141-4. Equipment for opticians |
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In order to protect the public health and safety, each applicant being issued an optical license shall have in his place of business and at his disposal the following equipment in order to complete the requirements for such license: (1) A complete set of neutralizing lenses or mechanical instrument for the measurement of focus power, in which case such instrument should bear a maximum tolerance of accuracy of .06; (2) lens-centering device; (3) lens measure; (4) thickness caliper; (5) equipment for accurately measuring pupillary distance. |
| Sec. 20-141-5. [Repealed] |
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Repealed June 16, 1982. |
| Sec. 20-141-6. Defining optical glasses and eyeglasses |
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Optical glasses to aid vision are the means for correcting eyesight defects when own as complete glasses, or when adapted to the ultimate wearer or consumer, of which the component parts, i.e. lenses and supporting materials, are produced or reproduced to individual specific formulas; and which given formulas include the Rx for foci, lens power, the specifications or mold for the form, size, shape and structure of the lens and/or of the supporting material and indications for the proper placement for fitting to the eyes and for their fitted application, such as the centers, the plane and the angle. Such optical glasses are referred to as optical glasses from given formulas, ophthalmic glasses or instruments from given formulas and eye glasses. |
| Sec. 20-141-7. Defining kindred products and optical merchandise |
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Kindred products of optical glasses generally are complete eyeglasses principally worn as an aid to vision and sold as optical stock-in-trade articles of merchandise, i.e., plano safety glasses, plano welding goggles and similar optical goods which are largely produced by grinding optical glass or substitutes therefor for the optical control of light or protection without causing light deviation and in so doing conform only to general formulas instead of given formulas and which may be utilized by any rather than specific individuals. |
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(Effective June 16, 1982) |
| Sec. 20-141-8. Defining optical instruments to aid vision |
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"Other instruments to aid vision" are optical glasses and ophthalmic instruments as aids to vision, which are lenses, therapeutic devices or other appliances from given formulas intended to be used for the aid and correction of visual or ocular anomalies of the eye; and include optical systems of lenses or combination of lenses assembled into a supporting structure which, when viewed through, are aids to vision, and which are sold as optical stock-in-trade articles of merchandise, i.e., magnifiers, readers, microscopes, field glasses, binoculars, telescopes, transits or articles of similar type which are largely produced by optically grinding glass to form ulas based upon the laws of optics. |
| Sec. 20-141-9. [Repealed] |
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Repealed June 16, 1982. |
| Sec. 20-141-10. Contact lenses—definition |
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The sale of contact lenses in the state of Connecticut is an inclusion under the provision that optical glasses, instruments and kindred products to aid vision may be sold only by licensed opticians in licensed optical establish ments. Contact lenses are tiny, thin oval shaped lenses about the size of a five-cent piece, made of glass or smooth nonirritating plastic. They may be ground to any power to correct any eye defect and are worn under the eyelids. |
| Sec. 20-141-10a. Contact lenses—sale and fitting |
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The sale of contact lenses in the state of Connecticut is included under the provision that optical glasses, instruments and kindred products to aid vision may be sold by licensed opticians in licensed optical establishments. Contact lenses may be fitted by licensed opticians in licensed optical establishments upon prescriptions for contact lenses prescribed by licensed physicians or surgeons or licensed optometrists or in any other location under the direction of a licensed physician or surgeon. This regulation does not apply to physicians or surgeons or certified optometrists exempt under section 20-162 of the general statutes. |
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(Effective April 6, 1971) |
| Sec. 20-141-11. Optical license permits |
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Any establishment under the personal and direct supervision of a licensed optician may be granted permission to sell at retail, dispense or supply to the ultimate wearer prescription glasses and optical instruments from given formulas which are optical aids to vision, instruments, eyeglasses, spectacles, other kindred products and reproduction of the same; to fit, adapt, adjust or bend frames by mechanical manipulations, molding techniques or other related functions, either with or without lenses, to the individual wearer whether the glasses are from prescription or under repair; to use the term "optician" or any synonym; to sell at retail optical goods as merchandise. Any establishment whose optical shop, laboratory, department or processing operations are under the personal and direct supervision of a licensed optician may be granted permission to make, process, produce and reproduce optical prescription glasses and optical instruments from given formulas which are optical aids to vision, instruments, appliances, eyeglasses, spectacles and other kindred products, to mount the same to supporting materials and to perform other related processes of compounding, fabricating or molding. |
| Sec. 20-141-12. Optical license selling permit |
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(a) Any licensed optician or any optical department in any optical establishment, office, department or store conducted under the personal and direct supervision of a licensed optician shall file an application of facts to qualify for an optical license selling permit when requesting permission to sell, dispense or supply to the ultimate wearer optical aids to vision, instruments, eyeglasses, spectacles and other kindred products. Application shall be made annually on forms issued by the commission and shall be sworn to before a proper person authorized to take oaths. All information given the commission of opticians by the applicant shall be considered representative of fact. Such application shall be forwarded to the commission of opticians, together with the required fee. (b) Any applicant qualifying for the optical license selling permit shall be issued an annual certificate which shall be valid at the one and only address named therein and shall expire on the first day of September of each year. Such permit shall record specified optical goods and enumeratee names of all employed licensed opticians, assistant licensed opticians, mechanical opticians, assistant mechanical opticians and apprentices. (c) The optical license selling permit shall be prominently displayed in the establishment and at the department where ophthalmic glasses and optical goods are sold, dispensed or supplied or distributed to the public. Each optical establishment, office, store or department, as defined in section 20-141-11, shall require a separate optical license selling permit at each location at which ophthalmic glasses are sold, dispensed, supplied or distributed to the public. |
| Sec. 20-141-13—20-141-16. [Repealed] |
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Repealed June 16, 1982. |
| Sec. 20-141-17. Dispensing, supplying and distributing to the public |
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To "dispense or supply" is to prepare, make or furnish as well as to distribute to the public optical glasses or ophthalmic instruments as aids to vision to the ultimate wearer of consumer, or any kindred products of optical glasses, whether or not the act of such dispensing or supplying or distribution is construed as technically involving a sale. (See G.S. § 20-153.) |
| Sec. 20-141-18. Disassociation of licensed optician from establishment |
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Immediately upon disassociation or severance of the recorded licensed optician in charge from any establishment for which an optical license permit has been granted, the optical license permit is terminated. A new optical license permit shall be applied for. |
| Sec. 20-141-19. Establishment, office, department, store, shop or laboratory |
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Each individual retail or service unit located at a recorded address is a separate establishment requiring a separate permit; and this is true although such a store or unit is part of an interstate or intrastate chain. |
| Sec. 20-141-20. Licensed optician responsible for all establishments for which he is granted an optical license permit |
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Every licensed optician is required to have an optical license permit for the declared establishment, location or premises where he proposes to act as such licensed optician. A licensed optician is responsible for any optical department, firm or establishment of which he is in charge, being deemed to be in charge of the same only when he is the owner or manager or equal in authority with another similarly licensed optician, and from which he receives his complete or major means of livelihood and to which he gives the major part of his time. Such an optical license permit shall be issued for more than one such optical establishment or location if such licensed optician assumes supervision of other locations or establishments; but in all instances such permits shall include the name of the responsible licensed optician in charge and under whose supervision such establishment or location is being operated, and shall be subject to the provision that such licensed optician transfer such individual license to the location or establishment at which he is functioning and that he is personally responsible for all acts or omissions (by himself or by others under such location) pertaining to the opticians' law and its regulations, under which such establishment or location holds itself open as an optical establishment or department. Both the license of the licensed optician and the optical license permit shall at all times be conspicuously displayed in the place in which such licensed optician practices as an optician. |
| Sec. 20-141-21. Standards applying to sun glasses, etc |
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(1) Sun glasses, goggles, plano safety glasses and plano welding goggles are optical lenses; spectacles, eyeglasses, optical appliances or other kindred products are optical glasses to aid vision and (2) in the interest of public health and safety such optical products shall be in accordance with standards for quality, the specifications for which shall govern the glass or other material used for glasses in order that they shall not produce distortion in excess of the allowable tolerances, the required degree of tranparency for the transmission of light and the certification that such standard has been complied with. |
| Sec. 20-141-22. Standard of quality for sun glasses and goggles sold at retail |
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(a) All sun glasses and goggles sold at retail in the state of Connecticut shall meet the following standard and shall bear certification by the manufacturer, wholesaler or distributor. The sun glasses and goggles regulated by this standard are optical glasses or kindred products or other instruments to aid vision by the control of light other than prescription lenses, visors and eye shades. These specifications for the Connecticut sun glass standard apply to any material, whether ground and polished, blown, drawn or dropped, or whether curved or flat, and do not restrict the price of the merchandise sold nor its make or type of manufacture. (b) (1) The lenses shall be of a quality suitable for optical products, i.e., free from striae, bubbles, seeds or other defects visible to the unaided eye. Both optical surfaces of the lenses shall be well polished and free from visible surface defects, such as scratches, waves and grayness. (2) Surfaces of lenses shall be essentially parallel or of compensated curvatures; prismatic effect shall not exceed one-eighth prism diopter. (3) Lenses shall be essentially without focal power; there shall not be more than one-sixteenth diopter of power in any meridian. The difference in power between any two meridians shall not exceed one-sixteenth diopter. (4) Lenses shall be substantially matched in color and density. (c) Lenses shall be treated for prismatic effect and focal power by any recognized optical method which provides the degree of accuracy indicated by these specifications. (d) Sun glasses and goggles sold at retail in the state of Connecticut shall bear a self-certifying label, securely attached directly to the article, certifying that the quality conforms to all requirements and tests of the Connecticut sun glass standard, which certification shall bear the certifier's name or identification mark registered with the commission of opticians. The commission of opticians will permit manufacturers, wholesalers or distributors ot certify to the above, provided the labels shall bear either of the following printed inscriptions: (1) "Certified by (manufacturer's, wholesaler's or distributor's identification) Conn. S.G. Standard-40." (2) "Certified (manufacturer's, wholesaler's or distributor's identification) Nat'l. Std. CS78-39 Ground and Polished." The commission of opticians will permit the holders or optical license selling permits or optical license processing permits to certify to the above, provided the labels shall bear the following inscription: "Certified by (OLsP number or OLpP number) Conn. S.G. Standard-40." |
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(Effective April 7, 1964) |
| Sec. 20-141-23—20-141-24. [Repealed] |
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Repealed June 16, 1982. |
| Sec. 20-141-25. Periods of apprenticeship |
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(a) The computation of any period of apprenticeship as an optical apprentice shall commence at the date of registration, provided such apprentice is employed in the state of Connecticut and in an establishment which has a licensed optical department which is capable of giving, and where the opportunity is available for such apprentice to obtain, practical experience, skill and optical knowledge as required and, further, is under the supervision of a licensed optician or a mechanical optician. (b) Any person who registers with the commission as is required by law for the purpose of producing or reproducing ophthalmic lenses and similar products or mounting the same to supporting materials or fitting the same by mechanical manipulations, molding techniques or other related functions and is employed in an establisment which does not comply with the conditions set forth in subsection (a) shall be recorded but shall not have such period accredited as time spent to qualify for examination except after satisfactory proof has been furnished the commission that such service is satisfactory, in which circumstances partial credit may commence at the date of registration as hereinafter set forth. (c) Any person, upon application, may be registered by the commission as an optical apprentice even though the place of employment has only a partial opportunity available for an apprentice to obtain practical experience, skill and optical knowledge required in order to qualify for examination. Under this condition a limited apprenticeship will result and such registered apprentice may obtain a part of the credit required by acquiring experience, skill and optical knowledge in surfacing, edging, benchwork or fitting and adjusting, either separately or in combinations, which, however, will not be all of the functions of producing and reproducing optical prescription glasses, mounting the same to supporting materials and fitting and adjusting the same to the ultimate wearer. Such a limited apprenticeship would require a subsequent application in order to register for such further opportunity as was not previously available in order to complete the required credit to qualify for examination. (See G.S. § 20-159.) |
| Sec. 20-141-26—20-141-29. [Repealed] |
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Repealed June 16, 1982. |
| Sec. 20-141-30. [Repealed] |
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Repealed October 22, 1968. |
| Sec. 20-141-31. Exemption of certified optometrists |
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The exemption for optometrists is personal only to such certified optometrists as individuals, and such exemption does not extend to any other person, firm, corporation or any other kind of an establishment with which such certified optometrists may be associated. (Last sentence deleted by House Joint Resolution No. 179, adopted by House of Representatives June 4, 1963, and by Senate June 5, 1963.) (See G.S. §§ 20-137, 20-162.) |