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OPTICIANS, DISPENSING
An Occupation in
 
Occupation Description:
 
  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.
 
Career Video:
  Video Icon  Opticians, Dispensing
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Typical Tasks:
 
 
  • Evaluate prescriptions in conjunction with clients' vocational and avocational visual requirements.
  • Recommend specific lenses, lens coatings, and frames to suit client needs.
  • Verify that finished lenses are ground to specifications.
  • Measure clients' bridge and eye size, temple length, vertex distance, pupillary distance, and optical centers of eyes, using measuring devices.
  • Sell goods such as contact lenses, spectacles, sunglasses, and goods related to eyes, in general.
  • Assist clients in selecting frames according to style and color, and ensure that frames are coordinated with facial and eye measurements and optical prescriptions.
  • Heat, shape, or bend plastic or metal frames to adjust eyeglasses to fit clients, using pliers and hands.
 
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..
  • 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..
  • 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..
  • Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods..
 
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Education & Training:
 
  Long-term on-the-job training (more than 12 months)
 
      View Related Programs on Connecticut's Education & Training ConneCTion site
 
Wage Information:
 
 
Region Average Annual Average Hourly Entry Level (hourly) Mid-Range  (hourly)
Statewide $66,160.00 $31.80 $21.27 $23.16 - $39.24
Bridgeport/Stamford $71,785.00 $34.51 $23.65 $26.72 - $41.07
Hartford $64,130.00 $30.83 $20.55 $21.28 - $38.62
New Haven $63,347.00 $30.45 $21.37 $23.27 - $39.14
New London/Norwich $65,943.00 $31.70 $20.51 $22.28 - $39.08
Waterbury $69,817.00 $33.56 $23.35 $27.38 - $39.75
      
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Occupation Outlook:
 
 
Region Employment Average Annual Growth Rate Average Annual Job Openings
2022 2032
State of Connecticut 500 550 0.1% 50
 
 
Chart of Growth Rate and Annual Openings   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow more slowly than average, and the number of annual openings will offer limited job opportunities.
Key:
  N/A = Not Applicable, ***** = Over $60.00 per hour, ##### = Over $124,821
 
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