Opticians, Dispensing Go Back to List 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.

Technology used in this occupation:
	Medical software

Tasks
	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.
	Prepare work orders and instructions for grinding lenses and fabricating eyeglasses.
	Assist clients in selecting frames according to style and color, and ensure that frames are coordinated with facial and eye measurements and optical prescriptions.
	Maintain records of customer prescriptions, work orders, and payments.
	Perform administrative duties such as tracking inventory and sales, submitting patient insurance information, and performing simple bookkeeping.
	Recommend specific lenses, lens coatings, and frames to suit client needs.
	Sell goods such as contact lenses, spectacles, sunglasses, and other goods related to eyes in general.
	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.

Skills
	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
	Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
	Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
	Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Knowledge
	Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
	Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
	Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
	English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
	Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
	Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
	Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
	Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
	Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
	Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

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Education & Training   Education:   Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.   Related Experience:   Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

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Wage Information
	Region Average Entry Level  Mid-Range  Annual  Hourly  Statewide $68,184.00 $32.78  $22.51  $24.08 - $38.37  Bridgeport/Stamford $69,845.00 $33.58  $24.09  $24.15 - $38.94  Danbury $70,157.00 $33.73  $25.49  $31.53 - $39.92  Hartford $69,700.00 $33.51  $22.63  $28.73 - $37.40  New Haven $63,936.00 $30.74  $21.39  $23.31 - $37.17  New London/Norwich $69,056.00 $33.20  $20.89  $30.40 - $43.87  Waterbury $66,387.00 $31.91  $22.51  $25.96 - $38.37

Occupation Outlook ( 2016 - 2026 ) Average Annual Job Openings:   42   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow faster than average, but the number of annual openings will offer somewhat limited job opportunities.

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	Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.