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Opticians, Dispensing

Also called: Dispensing Optician, Licensed Dispensing Optician (LDO), Licensed Optician, Optician

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What they do:
Design, measure, fit, and adapt lenses and frames for client according to written optical prescription or specification. Assist client with inserting, removing, and caring for contact lenses. 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. Includes contact lens opticians.
On the job, you would:
  • Measure clients' bridge and eye size, temple length, vertex distance, pupillary distance, and optical centers of eyes, using measuring devices.
  • Verify that finished lenses are ground to specifications.
  • Evaluate prescriptions in conjunction with clients' vocational and avocational visual requirements.

Knowledge

Business
  • customer service
  • sales and marketing
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
  • psychology
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
  • manufacture and distribution of products
Arts and Humanities
  • English language

Skills

Basic Skills
  • talking to others
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Social
  • looking for ways to help people
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
  • notice when problems happen
  • use rules to solve problems
Hand and Finger Use
  • put together small parts with your fingers
  • keep your arm or hand steady
Attention
  • do two or more things at the same time

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include leading, making decisions, and business.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cooperation
  • Self Control
  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Analytical Thinking

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Medical software
  • First Insight MaximEyes
  • Specialist Data Solutions OctoPlus
Accounting software
  • Intuit QuickBooks Hot Technology

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
high school diploma/GED or
certificate after high school
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Find Certifications Find Licenses Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Average Outlook
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Salary
$37,570
$28,910
$60,280
Check out my state Local Salary Info Find Jobs

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See more details at O*NET OnLine about opticians, dispensing.