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Career Profile

ExploreHealthCareers.org/opticiandispensing

Optician (Dispensing)

Overview

Dispensing opticians fit eyeglasses and contact lenses, following prescriptions written by ophthalmologists or optometrists. Dispensing opticians examine written prescriptions to determine lens specifications. They recommend eyeglass frames, lenses, and lens coatings after considering the prescription and the customer's occupation, habits, and facial features. Dispensing opticians measure clients' eyes, including the distance between the centers of the pupils and the distance between the eye surface and the lens. For customers without prescriptions, dispensing opticians may use a lensometer to record the present eyeglass prescription. They also may obtain a customer's previous record, or verify a prescription with the examining optometrist or ophthalmologist.

To learn more about this career, watch the video profile of "Opticians, Dispensing."

You can download, save and print a PDF of this career profile:

Optician 14 May 2008 [pdf, 164 KB]

Sponsor

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 (Photo: Getty Images)

Salary: $25,600 - $35,000 [*]

Years in school: 1 - 2 after high school graduation

Job outlook: Excellent

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Last updated: March 15, 2010 feedback@explorehealthcareers.org Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Diversity

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