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Opticians & Optometrist Assistants

a pair of glasses is being held in front of the camera as if the viewer is seeing through them. an eye examination chart is visible in the distance, with the chart appearing in-focus when viewed through the glasses lenses.
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This employment guide is a good place to start your job search. You can quickly see where the jobs are in B.C., the expected salary, which industry associations you may want to join, and more. You can use the menu buttons to move between sections of the guide. If you would like to download a printable copy of this guide, click the “Download [PDF]” button.

Opticians
NOC 2021: 32100/ NOC 2016: 3231

Optometrist Assistants
NOC 2021: 32109/ NOC 2016: 3414

Opticians may also be called:

  • Contact lens fitter
  • Eyeglasses/frame fitter

Optometrist Assistants may also be called:

  • Optical laboratory technician

What Would I Do?

Opticians

Fit clients with prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses, help clients select eyeglass frames, arrange for the production of eyeglasses or contact lenses and mount lenses in eyeglass frames. Duties may include:

  • do automated refractions (sight tests)
  • get specifications for eyeglasses or contact lenses from a prescription prepared by an ophthalmologist or optometrist or by analyzing clients’ eyeglasses or contact lenses and measuring clients’ eye curvature, pupillary distance and bridge width, using optical measuring devices
  • help clients to select eyeglasses by advising on lens materials, frames, tints and anti-reflection coating
  • advise on use and care of contact lenses
  • arrange for grinding and polishing of lenses or grind and polish lenses
  • cut and edge lenses and fit lenses into frames
  • adjust finished eyeglasses to fit clients

More information:

Optometrist Assistants

An optometric assistant (OA) is specially trained in vision care and assists optometrists in the provision of full scope optometric services to patients.  You provide services and assistance to optometrists, opticians or other health care professionals. Duties may include:

  • patient reception, scheduling appointments and referrals
  • make minor repairs for customers such as replacing frame screws or straightening frames
  • operate laboratory equipment to grind, cut, polish and edge lenses for eyeglasses according to prescriptions received and fit lenses into frames
  • maintain and repair optical laboratory equipment or machinery

More Information: