Z80.1 and the state of the art

Ophthalmic standards such as ANSI Z80.1, 1979 (Recommendation for Prescription Ophthalmic Lenses) are developed by the joint effort of many disciplines from eye care practitioners to suppliers and manufacturers. The tolerances, agreed upon by consensus, are fundamentally controlled by the state of the art, that is upon the quality of product which can be reliably produced by competent personnel using standard methods of processing. Research has demonstrated that the Z80.1, 1972 standard had been set at a level above the state of the art for today's lenses. Some of the tolerances in the 1979 revision were therefore lowered so as to establish a more realistic guideline. The new standard, if diligently applied by both laboratories and dispensers, should lead, however, to an increase and not a reduction in product quality.