9018.50.00.00 - Other ophthalmic instruments and appliances and parts and accessories thereof

This HTS category, 9018.50.00.00, encompasses a broad range of ophthalmic instruments and appliances not specifically classified elsewhere within heading 9018. This includes devices and equipment used for the examination, diagnosis, treatment, or correction of vision and eye conditions. Examples may include manual and automated refractors, lensmeters, slit lamps, fundus cameras, and keratometers. Crucially, this category also covers all parts and accessories specifically designed for these ophthalmic instruments.

It is important to distinguish this category from its siblings within heading 9018. While other subheadings cover electro-diagnostic apparatus (9018.10), ultraviolet or infrared ray apparatus (9018.20), and dental instruments (various subheadings), 9018.50.00.00 focuses exclusively on instruments and appliances related to ophthalmology. The classification hinges on the primary function and intended use of the apparatus; if it is designed for optical examination or treatment of the eye, and does not fall under a more specific subheading, it will likely be classified here.

As a leaf node, there are no further subdivisions within this specific HTS code. Therefore, the classification relies on a comprehensive understanding of what constitutes an "ophthalmic instrument or appliance." The key determinant is whether the item is specifically designed for use in optometry or ophthalmology, covering both diagnostic tools and therapeutic devices, along with their integral components and accessories.