Overview
EN ISO 10685-3:2012 - "Ophthalmic optics - Spectacle frames and sunglasses electronic catalogue and identification - Part 3: Technical information" defines the technical information and file format used to trade spectacle frames and sunglasses and to optimize lens processing for a given frame. Published by CEN/ISO in 2012, this part complements ISO 10685-1 (product identification) and ISO 10685-2 (commercial information) and explicitly includes sunglass clip-ons.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and purpose
- Specifies the technical data fields and file structure required for an electronic frame catalogue to support automated trading and lens processing.
- Aims to reduce errors and streamline supply-chain communication between manufacturers, laboratories and retailers.
- Data model & file format
- Uses an XML schema (see Annex B) for the technical section; a sample XML is provided in Annex D.
- Fields are defined with name, optional/mandatory flag, format and length to support consistent electronic exchange.
- Core technical fields (examples from Tables 1–3)
- Former (lens former availability - Boolean)
- Hbox / Vbox (lens width/height in mm)
- Dbl (distance between lenses in mm)
- Tmplng (temple length)
- Fed (frame effective diameter)
- Ledg (type of lens edge - bevel, flat, groove, mix)
- Gdepth / Gwidth (groove depth/width for semi‑rimless frames)
- Panto / Fcrv / Ffang (pantoscopic angle, frame curve, face form angle)
- Traces and Drillpnts tables (trace IDs, shape data, drilling point binaries)
- Fprocdesc (frame processing instructions) and Rxable (suitability for prescription lenses)
- Normative attachments
- Annex A: detailed field descriptions and mapping
- Annex B: XML schema (technical section)
- Annex C: frame dimension definitions and figures
- Annex D: example XML technical section
Applications - who uses this standard
- Frame manufacturers for publishing precise technical specifications.
- Lens laboratories to automate lens cutting, groove/drilling operations and verify frame compatibility.
- E‑commerce platforms and retailers for standardized product catalogues and search/filter capabilities.
- Optical software vendors for OMS, ERP and order‑processing integration.
- Supply chain partners needing unambiguous frame identification and technical data for automated workflows.
Related standards
- ISO 10685-1 - Product identification and catalogue hierarchy (required for identification).
- ISO 10685-2 - Commercial information.
- ISO 8624 - Spectacle frames - measuring system and terminology (referenced for dimensions).
EN ISO 10685-3:2012 is essential for organizations that require consistent, machine-readable technical frame data to improve order accuracy, lens processing efficiency and interoperability across the ophthalmic optics supply chain.
