In the dispensing opticians' career, the main job is to help people to see better at the same time look good. A dispensing optician helps people to choose and then fit contact lenses and eyeglasses for people with eye problems. Dispensing opticians follow prescriptions written by optometrists or ophthalmologists.
Job Description
The work of dispensing opticians is to recommend eyeglass lenses, frames, and lens coatings. They consider the prescription and the customer's habit, facial features, and occupation. Their work is to measure customer's eye comprising of distance between the ocular surface, the center of pupils, and the lens. Customers who do not have prescriptions, despising optician may use a focimeter in order to record eyeglass measurement to duplicate his/her current eyeglass.
These opticians may examine customer's earlier record to remake contact lenses, eyeglasses, or they may evaluate a prescription with the verifying ophthalmologist or optometrist. The work of a dispensing optician may involve preparing work in a sequence, which provides ophthalmic laboratory technicians the required information to insert and grind lenses into a frame.
The work of dispensing opticians may incorporate information on the size of lenses, prescription for lenses, style, color, and material. Many dispensing opticians insert and grind lenses themselves. Opticians may need to apply tint to glasses. Once the glasses are prepared, a dispensing optician confirms that the lenses are ground to specifications. Subsequently, they may require bending or reshaping the frames with hands or using pliers in order that fits the client comfortably and properly.
There are many dispensing opticians who deal with adjusting, refitting, and fixing broken frames. They provide instructions to customers on wearing, adapting, and caring for glasses. In addition, administrative responsibilities have covered utmost part of their work encompassing work orders, payments, and keep records on prescriptions of customers, and tracking sales and inventory.
After completing additional education and special training, many dispensing opticians specialize in artificial eyes, fitting contacts, and cosmetic shells in order to cover blemished eyes. In order to fit contact lenses, a dispensing optician measure the size and shape of the eye, choose the type of contact lens material, and create work orders stipulating the lens size and prescription.
Fitting contact lenses require opticians to have considerable care, skills, and patience. The work of dispensing opticians is to observe client's eyes, lids, corneas, and contact lenses with specialized microscopes and other instruments. Customers are taught how to care contact lenses such as removal and insertion during their follow-up visits.
Work Environment
Generally, dispensing opticians work indoors, especially, in optical stores, medical offices, club stores, and other large departments. Opticians need to spend ample amount of time on their feet. When opticians produce lenses, they are required to take precautions against the danger of chemicals, glass cutting, and machinery.
Many dispensing opticians work approximately forty hours a week. Dispensing opticians who serve in retail stores may need to work weekends and evenings. Some of the opticians work part-time. These opticians need to carry out following responsibilities.
Responsibilities
Dispensing opticians determine customers' existing lens prescriptions when required using lens analyzers, lensometers, or eyeglasses of the customers. They teach customers how to remove, insert, and care for their eyeglasses. Opticians repair damage frames. They attain previous record of the customer and verify a prescription with the validating ophthalmologist or optometrist.
Dispensing opticians may organize and maintain displays of optical products. They formulate lenses to meet prescribed specifications. Opticians have to grind lens edges and apply coating to lenses. They accumulate eyeglasses by means of edging and cutting lenses. Consequently, they fit the lenses into frames and ensure they are placed properly. Sometimes, dispensing opticians supervise the training of student opticians.
Educational Qualification
Many employers offer on-the-job training to their employees. Generally, workers in this profession receive training through apprenticeship programs that may be of two years. However, many employers prefer candidates who have completed graduation from an opticianry program. Candidates who have completed a high school diploma may get into this profession.