VISION MATTERS 
College of Opticians of British Columbia Newsletter
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October 2009
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What Is An Optician? That is an interesting question, and one that opticians are often asked. The Opticians Association of Canada commissioned a polling company, IPSOS Reed, to complete a survey on the public perception of opticians. They posed this question:
“A registered optician interprets your prescription for corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses, dispenses and fits eyewear, and is trained to make recommendations of the eyeglasses frame design best suited to your facial features. Given this description, would you agree or disagree with the following?”Nearly all British Columbians (90%) see opticians as trained and knowledgeable professionals. The majority (77%) say they will seek the advice of an optician for their next purchase. Three-quarters (75%) of people disagreed with the statement “opticians are only salespeople with no professional skill.”
Attitudes Towards Opticians
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% Agree
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An optician is a trained & knowledgeable professional
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90%
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I will seek advice of an optician for my next purchase
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77%
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Opticians are only salespeople with no professional skill
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25%
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So the challenge isn’t so much to let the public know about the skills of the profession rather it is to remind opticians of all the skills and training they have.
To assist you and to inform your patients, the COBC published a brochure “To See Clearly” answering key points such as:
- Why Should I see a Registered Optician?
- What to Expect From Your Optician?
- How do I Check if My Optician is Registered?
Contact the College to request that some of these brochures be mailed to you. Further check the COBC web site for an updated informative description of opticians. The COBC material also caused updates to the Wikipedia definition of an “optician.” You may want to check out both web sites.
If you want to know more about how the public perceive opticians you can access the full IPSOS Reed survey at
www.licensedoptician.ca. Just register a profile to access the “opticians’ area” part of the site. The survey is in two parts, the first for British Columbia and the second for the whole of Canada. It is well worth the read.
Also in this issue: