An optician is an eye care professional who provides corrective lenses based on a prescription for a refractive error. Corrective lenses may be contact lenses, spectacles lenses, low vision aids or ophthalmic prosthetics to those who are partially sighted. The corrective lenses are mounted either on the eye as contact lenses or mounted in a frame or holder in front of the eye as spectacles or as a monocle.
An optician will consult with a client to design an ophthalmic lens or appliance to best meet their needs. Opticians gather information from the patient on the use of the appliance, their level of activity, the necessity for protection from radiant energy or projectiles, and eye and facial features. In providing services Opticians are required to use a variety of instrumentation; these range from simple measuring devices to complex examination equipment. The list of equipment is often specified in jurisdiction specific Professional Standards of Practice. The standards of the College of Dispensing Opticians of Newfoundland and Labrador serve as an example.
Opticians specialize in the design, fitting, and dispensing of eyeglasses, contact lenses, low vision aids, and prosthetic ocular devices. Using the initial prescription for the correction of refractive error they determine the specifications of various ophthalmic devices that will give the necessary correction to a person’s eyesight. Some registered or licensed Opticians also design and fit special lenses to correct cosmetic, traumatic or anatomical defects these devices are called shells or artificial eyes. Other registered or licensed Opticians manufacture lenses to their own specifications and design and manufacture spectacle frames and other devices.
Opticians may work in any variety of settings such as independent or joint practice, hospitals, eye care centres or retail stores. However, registered opticians have to meet standards of practice and training, commit to ongoing education, hold professional liability insurance and are held to these standards by their respective regulating bodies.
Your eyesight is too important to trust to just anyone. Seeing a Licensed Optician will ensure you are getting a high quality service from an accountable professional. Licensed Dispensing Opticians have to meet standards of practice and training, commit to ongoing education, hold insurance and are held to these standards by the Newfoundland and Labrador College of Dispensing Opticians.
A Licensed Optician is trained to provide you with choices from the simplest aspect of corrective
First and foremost, you can expect your Optician to follow the Code of Ethics for Newfoundland and Labrador College of Dispensing Opticians.
Specifically this relates to you in the following ways:
Your Optician will…
What to expect when you are in an Optician’s dispensary:
Make sure that you are receiving treatment from a Licensed Optician – all Licensed Opticians will display their current Registration Certificate in a prominent location. If you cannot see it; ask to be shown this important document and make sure that it is valid for the current year.
While the style of the eyeglass frames is very important to you, the Optician’s recommendation on the type of lenses is what will determine your satisfaction with your eyewear.
To make sure you see well and easily, all ophthalmic lenses require precise measurements to be taken from your face and eyes, and the results must be accurately transferred to the eyewear. This is not a simple task; should your Licensed Optician make a mistake as little as a millimetre or two you may not be able to use your new eyewear.
Make sure that you ask about lens types; there are hundreds of modern lenses for different visual needs. There are also many lens coatings that will enhance your vision.
Some lenses are specifically made for people of different ages, and even some that are made to allow for a person’s posture and even eye and head movement.
Remember that your Licensed Optician is highly trained to provide you with choices from the simplest aspect of corrective lenses to the most complicated.
An optician is an eye care professional who provides corrective lenses based on a prescription for a refractive error. Corrective lenses may be contact lenses, spectacles lenses, low vision aids or ophthalmic prosthetics to those who are partially sighted. The corrective lenses are mounted either on the eye as contact lenses or mounted in a frame or holder in front of the eye as spectacles or as a monocle.
An optician will consult with a client to design an ophthalmic lens or appliance to best meet their needs. Opticians gather information from the patient on the use of the appliance, their level of activity, the necessity for protection from radiant energy or projectiles, and eye and facial features. In providing services Opticians are required to use a variety of instrumentation; these range from simple measuring devices to complex examination equipment. The list of equipment is often specified in jurisdiction specific Professional Standards of Practice. The standards of the College of Dispensing Opticians of Newfoundland and Labrador serve as an example.
Opticians specialize in the design, fitting, and dispensing of eyeglasses, contact lenses, low vision aids, and prosthetic ocular devices. Using the initial prescription for the correction of refractive error they determine the specifications of various ophthalmic devices that will give the necessary correction to a person’s eyesight. Some registered or licensed Opticians also design and fit special lenses to correct cosmetic, traumatic or anatomical defects these devices are called shells or artificial eyes. Other registered or licensed Opticians manufacture lenses to their own specifications and design and manufacture spectacle frames and other devices.
Opticians may work in any variety of settings such as independent or joint practice, hospitals, eye care centres or retail stores. However, registered opticians have to meet standards of practice and training, commit to ongoing education, hold professional liability insurance and are held to these standards by their respective regulating bodies.
Opticianry is a growing industry that involves the fitting and supplying of corrective lenses. The preparation and fitting of corrective lenses are vitally important to a client’s health, so people entering this field require special training and education. Anyone considering this as a career must have good communication skills and a flexible schedule.
