Optician

Optician

Responsible for ordering and dispensing eyeglasses, reordering and dispensing contacts, maintaining eyeglass frame boards, and following prescriptions written by ophthalmologists or optometrists.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Reviews written prescriptions to determine the specifications of lenses.
• Recommends appropriate eyeglass frames, lenses, and/or lens add-ons after considering the prescription and the patient’s lifestyle needs.
• Measures patients’ eyes, for pupillary distance, ocular center height, segment height for multifocal lenses and the vertex distance.
• Prepares work orders, including prescriptions for eyeglass lenses and information on their size, material, color, and style that give ophthalmic laboratory technician the information needed to grind and insert/mount lenses into a frame.
• Verifies eyeglasses by using a Lensometer and other instruments to record eyeglass measurements to verify lenses have been manufactured to the order’s specification(s). May obtain patient’s previous record in order to re-make eyeglasses or may verify prescription with the examining optometrist or ophthalmologist.
• May reshape or bend the eyeglass frame by hand or by using adjustment tools such as, pliers so that the eyeglasses fit the patient properly and comfortably. May fix, adjust, and refit/repair broken frames.
• Instructs patients about adapting to, wearing, and caring for eyeglasses.
• Documents patient care and treatment. Follows safety, infection control, and quality assurance protocols.

Education and/or Experience Required:

• High school diploma, some college or postsecondary optical training preferred. On-the-job training or two- to four-year apprenticeships often provided.
• Minimum three years of clinical experience, preferably in optical laboratory or department. Company is willing to train and/or supply training material.

Certificates, Licenses and/or Registrations Required:

• Certification exam offered by the American Board of Opticianary. The Company is willing to supply training material to obtaining certification. The company is also willing to reimburse for testing upon receipt of certification.

Performance Requirements:

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of basic physics, basic anatomy, some algebra, and some trigonometry.
• Knowledge of optical equipment and instruments.
• Knowledge of safety, infection control, documentation, and quality improvement protocols.
• Knowledge of new products through and the ability to explain or demonstrate the benefits.

Skills:

• Skill in using computers for optical mathematics and optical physics.
• Skill in using precision measuring instruments and other optical machinery and tools.
• Skill in adjusting eyeglasses/contact lenses to best fit patients.

Abilities:

• Ability to follow prescriptions and patient information to develop accurate work orders for ophthalmic lab technicians to make eyeglasses and contact lenses.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with optical clinical team.
• Ability to demonstrate eye–hand coordination, manual/finger dexterity, agility, and color vision and depth perception with visual acuity correctable to 20/25 while fitting eyeglasses and contacts.

Equipment Operated: Variety of optical equipment and instruments including but not limited to lensometers, pliers, screw drives and computer hardware/software.

Work Environment: Medical office, exam and laboratory setting. Well-lighted and well-ventilated surroundings. May be exposed to communicable diseases and other conditions related to clinic setting.

Mental/Physical Requirements: Combination of standing, sitting, walking, stooping, bending, and reaching. Occasionally must lift/carry up to 50 pounds.