Opticians, Dispensing :: Job Description

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Opticians, Dispensing

Careers / Opticians, Dispensing

Summary Description


	Design, measure, fit, and adapt lenses and frames for client according to written optical prescription or specification. Assist client with inserting, removing, and caring for contact lenses. Assist client with selecting frames. Measure customer for size of eyeglasses and coordinate frames with facial and eye measurements and optical prescription. Prepare work order for optical laboratory containing instructions for grinding and mounting lenses in frames. Verify exactness of finished lens spectacles. Adjust frame and lens position to fit client. May shape or reshape frames. Includes contact lens opticians.

Sample Job Titles

1.	Certified Optician

2.	Contact Lens Fitter

3.	Contact Lens Technician

4.	Dispensing and Measuring Optician

5.	Dispensing Optician

6.	Dispensing Optician Apprentice

7.	Eyeglass Fitter

8.	Licensed Dispensing Optician (LDO)

9.	Licensed Optical Dispenser

10.	Licensed Optician

11.	Ophthalmic Dispenser

12.	Optical Assistant

13.	Optical Dispenser

14.	Optical Manager

15.	Optical Technician

16.	Optician

17.	Optician Apprentice

18.	Optometric Assistant

19.	Optometric Technician

Job Tasks

	Evaluate prescriptions in conjunction with clients' vocational and avocational visual requirements.

	Recommend specific lenses, lens coatings, and frames to suit client needs. Recommend types of assistive devices.

	Verify that finished lenses are ground to specifications. Fabricate medical devices.

	Measure clients' bridge and eye size, temple length, vertex distance, pupillary distance, and optical centers of eyes, using measuring devices. Measure the physical or physiological attributes of patients.

	Sell goods such as contact lenses, spectacles, sunglasses, and other goods related to eyes in general. Merchandise healthcare products or services.

	Assist clients in selecting frames according to style and color, and ensure that frames are coordinated with facial and eye measurements and optical prescriptions. Fit eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other vision aids. Recommend types of assistive devices.

	Heat, shape, or bend plastic or metal frames to adjust eyeglasses to fit clients, using pliers and hands. Fit eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other vision aids.

	Show customers how to insert, remove, and care for their contact lenses. Instruct patients in the use of assistive equipment.

	Determine clients' current lens prescriptions, when necessary, using lensometers or lens analyzers and clients' eyeglasses. Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.

	Maintain records of customer prescriptions, work orders, and payments. Record patient medical histories.

	Fabricate lenses to meet prescription specifications. Fabricate medical devices.

	Instruct clients in how to wear and care for eyeglasses. Instruct patients in the use of assistive equipment.

	Prepare work orders and instructions for grinding lenses and fabricating eyeglasses.

	Assemble eyeglasses by cutting and edging lenses, and fitting the lenses into frames. Fabricate medical devices.

	Obtain a customer's previous record, or verify a prescription with the examining optometrist or ophthalmologist. Gather medical information from patient histories. Verify accuracy of patient information. Perform clerical work in medical settings.

	Order and purchase frames and lenses. Order medical supplies or equipment.

	Repair damaged frames.

	Perform administrative duties such as tracking inventory and sales, submitting patient insurance information, and performing simple bookkeeping. Perform clerical work in medical settings. Process medical billing information.

	Grind lens edges, or apply coatings to lenses. Fabricate medical devices.

	Supervise the training of student opticians. Train medical providers.

	Arrange and maintain displays of optical merchandise. Merchandise healthcare products or services.

Work Activities

Importance	Work Activity

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Staffing Organizational Units — Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment — Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

Nature of the Work


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Opticians, Dispensing
	Dispensing opticians help fit eyeglasses and contact lenses, following prescriptions from ophthalmologists and optometrists. They also help customers decide which eyeglass frames or contact lenses to buy.

	Read More >>

Working Conditions


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Opticians, Dispensing
	About half of opticians worked in offices of optometrists or offices of physicians in 2014. Other opticians worked in stores that sell eyeglasses, contact lenses, visual aids, and other optical goods. These stores may be stand-alone businesses or parts of larger retail establishments, such as department stores.

	Read More >>

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