Define “optician.”

**paw** · 11-04-2002, 09:36 PM

I am relatively new to this field. After 10 years in a previous career, then 7 years as an at-home mom, I started working in my husband’s optometric practice 2 years ago. I consider myself an optometric assistant. My husband would really like me to pursue being a licensed optician. I discovered Optiboard recently and have been reading the posts for “fun” but I’ve found I have learned a lot from them too.

What I still don’t have a handle on, is just what the definition of an optician is. The “lab rats” seem to consider themselves opticians. So do the people who work with patients. I’ve learned that apparently not all states require licensing, yet people working in states not requiring it, as well as the people in states that do but who haven’t attained licensure, consider themselves opticians.

So, what exactly is the definition of optician, and can you really be one if you aren’t licensed?

**optigoddess** · 11-05-2002, 01:37 AM

If I'm not mistaken, lab techs are bench opticians and the ones "out front"; working with patients, taking measurements & assisting patients/customers with eyewear selection choices are dispensing opticians

(anyway, that's the story I have heard...and I'm stickin' too it!)

Karen

**Tim Hunter** · 11-05-2002, 02:35 AM

No help for you at all but if you came to the UK, you'd find that optician was not a protected title and anyone could call themselves that. However "registered" or "qualified" optician are protected titles. I'm an "ophthalmic optician" or "optometrist" (a term we borrowed from the US a few years back over fears of loss of identity to European opticians, but that's another story) my dispensing colleagues are "dispensing opticians" and lab technicians are lab technicians.

**sandeepgoodbole** · 11-05-2002, 02:57 AM

optigoddess said:
If I'm not mistaken, lab techs are bench opticians and the ones "out front"; working with patients, taking measurements & assisting patients/customers with eyewear selection choices are dispensing opticians

(anyway, that's the story I have heard...and I'm stickin' too it!)

Karen

Any and everybody who, with responsibilty or otherwise, derives Mental or Monetory or Both types of Returns out of either or all of the following
1.Detection and analysis of the Refractive and NON Opthalmogy disorders.
2.Involvment in Desgin, Manufactor, Distribution of the Vision restoring devices, their spare parts, in Retail or Whole Sale.
3.Providing Intangible Expertise to the people of two Cataogories above.
4.Those who think about themsleves as Opticians(Opthalmologists Getting Rewards per Spects)
5.Those whom people think that those are Opticians
(Watch Makers, Shoe Salers , Cutlary Shops, Grocary shops, Barbers,Buthcers, Fast Food Chains, Free Lance salers, who put the Lipsticks, Underwears,spectacle frames, binoccculars, reading spects, condoms, goggles, torches,pens, toothpicks, its in the same bag and bug you miles together on beaches, of some Tourist Places.):hammer:

**Chris Ryser** · 11-05-2002, 05:34 AM

optigoddess said:
If I'm not mistaken, lab techs are bench opticians and the ones "out front"; working with patients, taking measurements & assisting patients/customers with eyewear selection choices are dispensing opticians

(anyway, that's the story I have heard...and I'm stickin' too it!)

Karen

Being old fashioned.............in my humble opinion an optician:

1) Should master and evolve from the technical fom the BENCH side of being able to make a pair of glasses from scratch, not necessarily surfacing.

2) Should have the knowhow of repairing anything to do with glasses

3)T Then go on and be a specialist in dispensing glasses. Only the an optician with proper practical and theoretical status can advise the patients and other customers.

???? (How many poeple are walking around with those fashionable small narrow glasses and fitted with progessives whers they have 1mm left of reading add) ??????????????????

Maybe those opticians should have more technical and practical knowhow.

Chris Ryser

**paw** · 11-05-2002, 09:02 AM

I'm wondering if the optician association has an official definition or description of an optician. I haven't been able to find one.

**Pete Hanlin** · 11-05-2002, 09:18 AM

I'm wondering if the optician association has an official definition or description of an optician. I haven't been able to find one.
I suppose it will depend upon with which "optician association" you confer.

For reference:
Webster's
Main Entry: op·ti·cian
Pronunciation: äp-'ti-sh&n
Function: noun
Date: 1687
1 : a maker of or dealer in optical items and instruments
2 : a person who reads prescriptions for visual correction, orders lenses, and dispenses eyeglasses and contact lenses

Dictionary of Ophthalmic Optics (published by B-H for the National Academy of Opticianry)
Main Entry: optician, dispensing
A skilled, technical expert who takes anatomical measurements, analyzes lens formulas and the wearer's needs, sets forth specifications for finished eyewear, and verifies, fits, and adjusts finished eyewear to adapt lens formulas to the wearer's needs. Also referred to as an ophthalmic dispenser.

BTW, "Licensed Dispensing Optician" (LDO) is a legal designation in Florida (you must pass a state board which is administered by the Department of Health before you can use the term "Optician" or "Opticianry" in reference to your position or job description).

Hope this helps. Assuming we can get a nationally accepted minimum standard of formal education (which is assuming a LOT), I'd like to see the term become "Ophthalmic Pharmacist," but that's just my ruthers...
:)

**chip anderson** · 11-05-2002, 10:29 AM

OPTICIAN: Anyone who has anything to do with the sale, manufacture or distribution of optical products.

We can try to make it more and change adjuctives but that's what we is. This includes, telescopes, microscopes, spectacles or whatever, it's all part of the optical business and us folks working in it are opticians.

Chip

**Chris Ryser** · 11-05-2002, 12:01 PM

chip anderson said:
OPTICIAN: Anyone who has anything to do with the sale, manufacture or distribution of optical products.

We can try to make it more and change adjuctives but that's what we is. This includes, telescopes, microscopes, spectacles or whatever, it's all part of the optical business and us folks working in it are opticians.

Chip

Chip If you ask a search engine like http://askjeeves.com the word optician the will give loads of optical stores.........

When you ask optical.....it is manly optical electronis as fiber optics ect.

The Brits used to call them "Ophthalmic Optician"

Chris Ryser

**chip anderson** · 11-05-2002, 02:06 PM

Webster's Ninth Collegiate:

Optician:
1) a maker of or dealer in optical items or instruments.
2) One that Grinds lenses to precription and dispenses spectacles.

Amen.

**PAkev** · 11-05-2002, 02:14 PM

O P T I C I A N

To the folks looking for cheap eyewear, it is the person that may write up their lens order after they choose a fashionable frame and the person that tightens their eyewire screws every two weeks. When things do not meet their expectations or problems occur it is the professional that should have understood and met their specific vision needs. Heck! You can put air in your tires, change spark plugs, and change the oil in your car and also call yourself a mechanic.

I think it would be more interesting to ask a few patients what qualities they would expect their optician to exhibit and then work on demonstrating the abilities to meet those expectations. When the patient is happy most wouldn't care less if a monkey made their eyewear. However someone with a previous bad experience is much more likely to put a higher value on a competent optician.

The real complement however is when folks call us DOCTOR !

Kevin

**Chris Ryser** · 11-05-2002, 02:28 PM

That was a good speach, but you still have not defined the optician. there is good mechanics and bad mechanics as well as opticians, but what defines him or her........?

Chris Ryser

**John R** · 11-05-2002, 03:31 PM

The Ophthalmologist
The ophthalmologist is both physician and surgeon for conditions occurring in and around the eye. The surgical work of the general ophthalmologist may include cataract extraction, squint, glaucoma and retinal surgery.

The Optometrist
Your career as an optometrist will put you at the front line of vision care. Every day will bring fresh challenges and new opportunities to care for one of your patients' most precious assets - their sight.

The Orthoptist
Orthoptists make a valuable contribution to eye health care. Most orthoptists are employed in the eye department of a hospital, seeing patients referred to them by family doctors or local consultants.

The Dispensing Optician
The profession of ophthalmic dispensing is over 250 years old. As in the past, the supply of spectacles and other visual aids is important to a modern society. Of prime concern to every qualified Dispensing Optician is the visual comfort of the patient.

Will that do you...

**Chris Ryser** · 11-05-2002, 03:51 PM

John R said:
The Ophthalmologist
The ophthalmologist is both physician and surgeon for conditions occurring in and around the eye. The surgical work of the general ophthalmologist may include cataract extraction, squint, glaucoma and retinal surgery.

The Optometrist
Your career as an optometrist will put you at the front line of vision care. Every day will bring fresh challenges and new opportunities to care for one of your patients' most precious assets - their sight.

The Orthoptist
Orthoptists make a valuable contribution to eye health care. Most orthoptists are employed in the eye department of a hospital, seeing patients referred to them by family doctors or local consultants.

The Dispensing Optician
The profession of ophthalmic dispensing is over 250 years old. As in the past, the supply of spectacles and other visual aids is important to a modern society. Of prime concern to every qualified Dispensing Optician is the visual comfort of the patient.

Will that do you...

Not bad John,

One exception is the Orthoptist..........

Orthoptics and Pleoptiocs is the treatment of mostly children with vision defficiencies due to strabism and other reasons and referred by the Opthalmologist..

Chris Ryser

**chip anderson** · 11-05-2002, 04:39 PM

Kevin:

I feel insulted when a patient or supplier calls me doctor. There by insinuating that I am a physician who has sunk so low as to fill his own (or have a financial interest in filling) his own prechriptions.

Chip

**PAkev** · 11-05-2002, 05:57 PM

One little problem I see is that we may be putting too much emphasis on glorified semantics.

During the past few years many retailers have enjoyed the short term success of an instant pudding qualification mentality for their employees. For example, Many a salesperson would wake up one morning and go to work finding new nametags that said "Sales Consultant" or "Product Specialist" without changing a single thing in their abilities or business practice. Why? Because it developed a specific way the employee could develop the confidence of consumers with the collateral effect of making the employee feel better about their job.

As the old saying goes "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" and therefore the title obviously has a different meaning to different people.

PAW,
If you know you are doing your best, learning and applying something new each day, and suscribing to a good code of ethics, I wouldn't have any problem calling you "My Optician". I am not a 25yr veteran but feel I know the business fairly well and will be the first to humbly admit that there is a lot of professional development for my future.

Kevin

**Chris Ryser** · 11-05-2002, 07:36 PM

PAkev said:
One little problem I see is that we may be putting too much emphasis on glorified semantics.

During the past few years many retailers have enjoyed the short term success of an instant pudding qualification mentality for their employees. For example, Many a salesperson would wake up one morning and go to work finding new nametags that said "Sales Consultant" or "Product Specialist" without changing a single thing in their abilities or business practice. Why? Because it developed a specific way the employee could develop the confidence of consumers with the collateral effect of making the employee feel better about their job.

As the old saying goes "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" and therefore the title obviously has a different meaning to different people.

PAW,
If you know you are doing your best, learning and applying something new each day, and suscribing to a good code of ethics, I wouldn't have any problem calling you "My Optician". I am not a 25yr veteran but feel I know the business fairly well and will be the first to humbly admit that there is a lot of professional development for my future.

Kevin

in the eyes of the beholders..................did sheakspeare invent this one?., he must have been shaking then....................... does not mean one is competent in optics, and it still does not identify an optician,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and qualifactions.

Wish oh god, oh goddess would give a comment

**paw** · 11-06-2002, 12:32 AM

Interesting discussion. I like Pete's Dictionary of Ophthalmic Optics definition.

Is there a separate license for dispensing opticians and bench opticians?

**Chris Ryser** · 11-06-2002, 04:54 AM

paw said:
Interesting discussion. I like Pete's Dictionary of Ophthalmic Optics definition.

Is there a separate license for dispensing opticians and bench opticians?

If there is, there should not be. The technical practice of the bench man comes in more than handy when progressed to deal with public. You know what can be done and what not and how. Anybody dealing with patients and or customers should have a pratical in depth knowdledge of the profession, as in many others.
Chris Ryser

**Joann Raytar** · 11-06-2002, 08:43 AM

Responsibilities of the Professional Licensed Optician

Opticians design and fit eyewear, this includes spectacles, contact lenses, low vision aids and other specialized optical devices.

Let’s take a look at what is involved in designing a simple pair of glasses. The essence of what an optician does is to select, from all the different products available, the very best combination of these products to fit the visual needs of the specific patient based on a number of variables. These variables include the patient’s prescription, occupation, hobbies, sports they might play, facial and ocular measurements, fashion preferences and more. The eyewear must fit safely and comfortably into the patient’s lifestyle. This requires an extensive patient history gained by discussion with the patient. Once the patient’s needs are known we can begin to suggest the best combination of frames, lenses, coatings and other special treatments.

Mike Goggin
Director - Opticianry Program
Roane State Community College
865.354.3000 ext. 4319

You can find the full, detailled definition here:

http://www.rscc.cc.tn.us/academic/he...ibilities.html

You can also find an industry overview and links to course descriptions for Opticianry here:

http://www.rscc.cc.tn.us/academic/healthsci/opticianry/

In Connecticut, as with Pete's Florida, "'Licensed Dispensing Optician' (LDO) is a legal designation ... (you must pass a state board which is administered by the Department of Health before you can use the term 'Optician' or 'Opticianry' in reference to your position or job description)." The Connecticut state board requires Opticians to have knowledge in all areas of Opticianry including State statutes governing the profession, ANSI standards (which are madatory in CT), laboratory proceedures, the specific type of equipment required to open and run an Optical Shop, the fitting and dispensing of optical devices and contact lenses and repairing eyewear. CT requires a minimum time period of apprenticeship and/or formal education before individuals can sit for the Licensure exams.

**Chris Ryser** · 11-06-2002, 09:56 AM

Thank you Jo

Now we have it offical

Chris Ryser

**paw** · 11-06-2002, 11:23 PM

Very helpful, Jo, thanks!

**Joann Raytar** · 11-07-2002, 12:41 AM

Chris Ryser said:
Thank you Jo

Now we have it offical

Chris Ryser

Unfortunately, this only makes it official for Connecticut.

Here are the OptiBoard search results for the terms "requirements for licensure." If you look through some of the threads you will find that each state is different. New York, I believe, has two seperate titles one for dispensing optician and one for contact lens fitting.