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Looking Ahead: The Optician Job Description

In today’s world of millennials and hipster “geek chic” – eyewear is important as ever. Do you have an eye for great eyewear? If you do, a career as an Optician may be the right choice for you! Opticians help fit people for eyeglasses and contact lenses, processing and following prescriptions from optometrists and ophthalmologists. Opticians also help visually-challenged patients select the right pair of lenses or contacts for their needs. Not only does this make the job description both fun and creative, but it is also a booming industry with a bright job outlook!

But what exactly does an Optician do? What little details of the Optician job description should you know about, before diving into this in-demand profession? In this article, Goodwin College explores the Optician job description and reveals why Optician careers are so hot in Connecticut right now.

A Breakdown of the Optician Job Description

As noted above, Opticians are known for their role in fitting people for eyeglasses and contact lenses –but that’s not all they do. Opticians are also responsible for – but not limited to – the following tasks:

  • Processing prescriptions
  • Measuring customers’ eyes and faces, such as the distance between their pupils
  • Helping people choose frames and lens treatments, such as eyewear for occupational use or sports, tints, or antireflective coatings, based on their vision needs and style preferences
  • Creating work orders for ophthalmic lab technicians
  • Adjusting the eyewear to ensure a proper fit
  • Utilizing special tools to repair or replace broken frames
  • Educating customers about eyewear—for example, showing them how to care for their contact lenses
  • Performing business tasks, such as maintaining sales records, keeping track of customers’ prescriptions, and ordering and maintaining inventory in the optical store

All of this, and more, can be taught in the right Connecticut optician training program.

At Goodwin College, Vision Care students learn the skills needed as an optician through live, hands-on experience at the school’s state-of-the-art lab facility and store. Our optician training store models a real-life optical practice, where students assist real patients and fit eyewear under the direct supervision of a clinical instructor. Goodwin’s optician program is the only one-of-its-kind in the area, both training students in technical work and honing their customer service skills. Check out these incredible new facilities for yourself! View our video tour of the Vision Care training store and laboratory facility.

Social Skills: A Requirement of any Optician Job Description

Becoming an optician means working in a field where every day is new and challenging. Patients come to you in search of a new look – literally! And the people who enter your office will come from all different walks of life. As anyone in customer service could tell you – there’s never a dull moment! So, if you enjoy working with people and have good communication skills, you’re certainly going to make a great optician!

In addition to your social and communication skills, there are many other qualities required to become a successful optician, such as:

  • Critical thinking skills – Opticians must think on their feet, evaluating situations and making decisions with customers’ best interests in mind. They must know what adjustments need to be made to glasses and lenses, and also which materials, styles, and strengths are best for each customer’s individual needs.
  • Management skills – Opticians are often responsible for running the business operations of an optical store, and therefore must have strong decision-making and managerial skills.
  • Manual dexterity – Opticians use small, specialized tools to fix and adjust eyewear, and therefore must have good hand-eye coordination.

Much like many other states, you must be licensed to become an Optician in Connecticut. Click here for the full list of certification requirements. Not only does Goodwin’s optician degree program equip you with the skills listed above, we also prepare students to sit for both the American Board of Opticianry exam (ABO) and the National Contact Lens Examination (NCLE). When it comes to meeting that list of requirements on the Optician job description, these credentials will allow you to excel.

The good news for anyone considering Optician careers in Connecticut, is that this is a booming industry with great opportunity. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects this position to grow 15 percent from over the next several years – much faster than the average for all occupations!

Learn more about the Vision Care program, laboratories, and facilities at Goodwin College by calling 800-889-3282 or visiting us online at www.goodwin.edu/landingpages/vision-care.