Why Should I See A Registered Optician?
Your
eyesight is too important to trust to just anyone. Seeing a registered
optician will ensure you are getting a high quality service from an
accountable professional. Registered optician have to meet standards of
practice and training, commit to ongoing education, hold insurance, and
are held to these standards by the College of Opticians of British
Columbia.
Registered Opticians are specially trained to design, fit, and dispense eyeglasses, contact lenses, low vision aids, and prosthetic ocular devices. They interpret written prescriptions from Ophthalmologists (medical doctors) and Optometrists (non-medical eye care professionals) to determine the specifications of ophthalmic appliances necessary to correct a person's eyesight. Some registered Opticians also design and fit cosmetic shells and artificial eyes. Other registered Opticians may grind lenses and design and manufacture specific spectacle frames and other devices needed by their clients. Registered Opticians are required to keep complete records on their client's eyewear, this enables a person to duplicate eyeglasses, contact lenses and other visual appliances without incurring unnecessary cost.
Recently in British Columbia, the government announced proposed changes to the Opticians' Regulations that will allow registered Opticians who have received specialized training to conduct automated refractions (sight tests) and, based on the results, determine the power for corrective lenses for their client's eyeglasses. Although Opticians have conducted automated refractions since 1996, they have done so under the nominal supervision of a physician. These changes, which will expand the scope of practice of some Opticians to perform these tests without the oversight of a physician, are not yet in effect. Please refer to the section on automated refraction in the website for more detailed information about this issue and about regulatory and safety initiatives being undertaken by the College to oversee this new area of Opticians' practice.
All registrants of the College must meet educational requirements and pass the registration examinations related to the dispensing of eyeglasses, and to the fitting of contact lenses. There are currently approximately 1037 practicing registrants and 101 non-practicing registrants.
Eyeglasses
Registered Opticians recommend eyeglass frames, lenses, and lens coatings after considering the power of the lenses and the customer's occupation, habits, and facial features. Registered Opticians measure clients' eyes, including the distance between the centers of the pupils and the distance between the surface and the lens. Some clients want to replace existing eyewear without seeking a new prescription from an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Registered Opticians will then use a lensometer to record existing eyeglass measurements to create a new pair of eyeglasses with the same lens power. They also may obtain a customer's previous record or verify the power of the lenses with the examining optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Contact Lenses, Cosmetic Shells, and Artificial Eyes Contact Lenses, cosmetic shells and artificial eyes all come in contact with sensitive tissue of the eye. Opticians’ regulations reflect it is in the public interest for persons fitting these devices to have special training. Opticians who fit and dispense contact lenses and cosmetic shells have taken specialized training and undergone a rigorous certification examination.Qualified opticians are identified by a special certificate displayed at their place of business. Registered opticians measure the shape and size of the eye, select the type of contact lens material, and prepare work orders specifying the power of the lenses and lens size. In some cases, registered opticians prepare moulds of an eye, which is used in the manufacture of some of these specialized devices. This work requires considerable skill, care, and patience. Registered Opticians observe clients' eyes, corneas, lids, and contact lenses with special instruments and microscopes. During several visits, registered opticians show clients how to insert, remove, and care for their contacts, their cosmetic shells or their artificial eyes. At periodic intervals throughout a patient’s contact lens wearing life, opticians are required to check the fitting of the contacts lenses. Opticians do all this to ensure that the lenses and shells do not cause any harm to the eye.
Low Vision Aids
Many individuals who become visually impaired feel they must give up reading because for them a once-enjoyable activity has become fraught with difficulty. Registered Opticians , however, can help provide low vision aids to make reading easier, more comfortable, and more enjoyable. Specially trained registered opticians will consult with visually impaired clients and design the best system for that individual, their life situation, and their specific visual limitation. Devices can range from simple hand-held magnifying lenses systems to high-tech computerized or electronic systems. The number of individuals with visual impairment is growing and many will find registered opticians can serve their needs with this specialized low vision aids.
Manufacturing
Registered Opticians prepare work orders that give ophthalmic laboratory technicians' information needed to grind and insert lenses into a frame. The work order includes power of the lenses and information on their size, material, color, and style. Some registered opticians grind and insert lenses themselves. After the glasses are made, registered Opticians verify that the lenses have been ground to specifications. They are trained to adjust the eyeglasses, by hand or by using special tools to ensure the eyeglasses fit the client properly and comfortably. Some also fix, adjust, and refit broken frames. They instruct clients about adapting to, wearing, or caring for eyeglasses.
How to become an optician in British Columbia
Are you interested in a career in Opticianry? For more information about degree courses in British Columbia, please visit the section on Becoming an Optician: Training and Education.