bc dispensaries doing refractions

hi, i was wondering how many dispensaries are doing the sight testing here in bc, i don't know how many bc opticals use this forum, or even know about it, but since the new rules as of may 1st, our dispensaries went with the new testing equipment, & we have seen an increase in traffic by about 30-40% & we have only being doing it for six month's, is everyone else in bc feeling this? or does everyone here already do the sight testing & i'm just really late getting on the train?...but what ever it is, these are all new customers that i never had before, & i can thank falcon & the sight testing for that.

I was wondering how things were going out there. I noticed an ad in the back of Optik magazine offering a 6 month course to become an optician/contact lens fitter.

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Originally Posted by edKENdance

I was wondering how things were going out there. I noticed an ad in the back of Optik magazine offering a 6 month course to become an optician/contact lens fitter.

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Where have you been?? This ad in Optik magazine is for the BC College of Optics 6-month course, which has been offered here in BC for the past 27-years... see www.bccollegeofoptics.ca

Weird. Here it takes 4 years. Not sure why I never noticed.

How do you get licensed after taking the course ? Which provinces will accept the credentials ? Has the deregulation in British Columbia affected the number of license renewals ?

alberta has a university called "nait"... northern alberta institute of technology, this is an on-line course, which i took, it's a 3 month course, & once passing you get your refracting licence, & now able to refract in b.c. i can't remember the cost, something like $800.00 but you'd have to check with them, as far as licence renewals in bc, i would think there would be a lot less, but the bc college claims they're up, hmmmmmm.

doglas, What type of refracting are you doing. Just using an autorefractor or actually doing a vision eye exam.

we are doing the vision eye exam, which also includes the autorefractor, the system we are using is called cv-5000 & made by top-con

Anyone know what the situation for optometrists is like ever since the regulation passed? Are customers foregoing eye exams in large numbers in lieu of vision tests?

personally, i don't think so, i now send about 50% more customers to the optometrist that i've being dealing with for years now, it turns out that i can test only about 50% of the customers that want a vision test, for various reasons, age, blood pressure, ect. so when i can't test them, the optometrist does, with more volume from our store, so is he suffering? i don't think so. but my father who is also a local optometrist (who needs to retire...badly) thinks the world is coming to an end because i sight test. totally different opinions.

6 month course doesn't qualify you as an optician in ontario. 6 months only makes you dispensing receptionist.

So how's the situation for ODs in BC these days? Are they doing OK?

Laws of reciprocity. Once licensed in one province as an optician, no matter the education, you can work in any province.

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Originally Posted by optical maven

Laws of reciprocity. Once licensed in one province as an optician, no matter the education, you can work in any province.

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But would anyone hire you from the 6 month course?
That is the question!

Regards,
Golfnorth

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Originally Posted by AnotherOD

So how's the situation for ODs in BC these days? Are they doing OK?

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Eye exam volume is not a problem.

Distrust of dispensers is! CC and internet has consumer thinking we are overcharging. Plus real economy in recession/depression. Makes for lower rx capture rate. Especially with 20-30 yr olds.
But once they need service where do they go....to us. That's where they find out that services has a reasonable fee attached.

Gib