National
| Median wages (2008) |
$15.77 hourly, $32,810 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
66,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Average (7% to 13%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
27,000 additional employees |
29-2081.00 - Opticians, Dispensing
Design, measure, fit, and adapt lenses and frames for client according to written optical prescription or specification. Assist client with selecting frames. Measure customer for size of eyeglasses and coordinate frames with facial and eye measurements and optical prescription. Prepare work order for optical laboratory containing instructions for grinding and mounting lenses in frames. Verify exactness of finished lens spectacles. Adjust frame and lens position to fit client. May shape or reshape frames.
Sample of reported job titles:
Optician, Dispensing Optician, Licensed Optician, Optometric Assistant, Certified Optician, Licensed Dispensing Optician, Ophthalmic Dispenser, Optometric Technician, Optical Technician, Contact Lens Technician
Tasks
- Verify that finished lenses are ground to specifications.
- Prepare work orders and instructions for grinding lenses and fabricating eyeglasses.
- Measure clients' bridge and eye size, temple length, vertex distance, pupillary distance, and optical centers of eyes, using measuring devices.
- Heat, shape, or bend plastic or metal frames to adjust eyeglasses to fit clients, using pliers and hands.
- Evaluate prescriptions in conjunction with clients' vocational and avocational visual requirements.
- Assist clients in selecting frames according to style and color, and ensure that frames are coordinated with facial and eye measurements and optical prescriptions.
- Fabricate lenses to meet prescription specifications.
- Maintain records of customer prescriptions, work orders, and payments.
- Recommend specific lenses, lens coatings, and frames to suit client needs.
- Instruct clients in how to wear and care for eyeglasses.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Calipers — Dial calipers; Digital calipers |
| Files — Half-round files |
| Hex keys — Hex wrenches |
| Lens measuring equipment — Contact lens thickness gauges; Lens analyzers; Lens clocks |
| Ophthalmic lensometers — Focimeters; Optometric lensometers |
| Opticians tools or accessories — Frame warmers; Pickup screwdrivers; Pupillometers; Snipe nose pliers |
| Screwdrivers — Phillips head screwdrivers; Straight screwdrivers |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Medical software — EMRlogic Systems ENTERPRISE Visions; First Insight MaximEyes; HealthLine Systems Eyecom; Specialist Data Solutions OctoPlus |
| Point of sale POS software |
| Project management software — EZ-Zone Optizone Enterprise |
