Eyeglass Tools

Eyeglass tools are similar to regular tools, but an optician's toolbox contains some unique tricks of the trade. For instance, the top of an eyeglass screwdriver rotates so you can apply pressure with the palm of your hand while turning the handle of the screwdriver with your fingers. Retail eyeglass repair kits usually contain a small ordinary screwdriver and a few screws, but the kits are not comparable or as useful as professional optical tools.

Screwdrivers

• One of the most common repairs for eyeglass frames is replacing and tightening screws. Special screwdrivers are needed for optical screws, which come in many different sizes and designs. Optical screwdrivers are similar to ordinary tools in that they are either slotted or x-shaped, but optical screwdrivers are smaller and have different features such as a spinning top or ergonomic handles that are easier to hold.

Pliers

• Opticians use pliers for many types of frame repairs and adjustments. Eyeglass pliers include snipping pliers for cutting, nosepad pliers for adjusting nosepads, double-padded pliers that will not mar a frame, lens-alignment pliers for turning lenses, and rimless-assembly pliers for working on rimless frames.

Heat and Salt Pans

• An optician gently heats plastic eyeglass frames before adjusting the frame or inserting lenses. She places the frames in a special bin that contains heated glass beads or salt, which warm the frame enough to make it pliable. Opticians also use a special machine that blows hot air on the frame as another method for warming plastic frames.

Measuring Tools

• A common optical tool is the PD (pupillary distance) ruler, a small plastic or wooden ruler that is 6 inches on one side and 150 millimeters on the opposite side. Most optical measurements are recorded in millimeters. Eye care practitioners use PD rulers to measure many things including a patient's PD, or the distance between your eyes, frame size and lens size.

  Other common eyeglass tools include lens calipers which measure thickness; a tool that measures the curve of a lens, called a lens clock; and a seg gauge for bifocal measurement.

Files

• Opticians frequently use special files for eyeglass repair and adjustment. Frame files come in many sizes and range from coarse to very fine. Opticians use files to smooth out rough edges of frames and to make adjustments to the frame.