Profession optician

Opticians help to improve and correct an individual's vision according to prescriptions provided by a specialised doctor in ophthalmology or an optometrist. They fit spectacle lenses and frames, contact lenses, and other devices to the specifications of both the individual and the prescription. Opticians do not test patients vision nor write prescriptions for visual correction. Their scope of practice varies according to national regulations.

Personality Type

• Enterprising / Conventional

Knowledge

• Optical instruments

  The characteristics and usage of optical instruments such as lens-meter, to determine refractive power of lenses such as glasses.

• Health care legislation

  The patients` rights and responsibilities of health practitioners and the possible repercussions and prosecutions in relation to medical treatment negligence or malpractice.

• Quality standards of ophthalmic equipment

  The various national or international quality standards for ophthalmic equipment (glasses, lenses, etc) such as ISO 10685-1:2011.

• Eye protection regulations

  Eye protection regulations and relevant standards in relation to occupational visual requirements.

• Optical glass characteristics

  The characteristics of optical glass such as refractive index, dispersion, and chemical properties.

Skills

• Educate on the prevention of illness

  Offer evidence-based advice on how to avoid ill health, educate and advise individuals and their carers on how to prevent ill health and/or be able to advise how to improve their environment and health conditions. Provide advice on the identification of risks leading to ill health and help to increase the patients' resilience by targeting prevention and early intervention strategies.

• Verify lenses compliance

  Verify that lenses are according to the specifications.

• Repair lenses

  Repair or replace damaged lenses for customers' spectacles.

• Respond to changing situations in health care

  Cope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.

• Advise on healthcare users' informed consent

  Ensure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.

• Adhere to organisational guidelines

  Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.

• Listen actively

  Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.

• Dispense corrective lenses

  Dispense eyeglasses and contact lenses according to doctors' prescriptions.

• Monitor stock level

  Evaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.

• Use e-health and mobile health technologies

  Use mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.

• Apply context specific clinical competences

  Apply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within one`s own scope of practice.

• Accept own accountability

  Accept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.

• Ensure customer focus

  Attitude that puts customers at the centre of the business in all cases.

• Comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice

  Apply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associations and authorities.

• Apply health sciences

  Apply a broad range of bio-medical, psycho-social, organisational, educational, and societal aspects of health, disease, and healthcare to improve healthcare services and to improve quality of life.

• Maintain records of clients' prescriptions

  Keep records of customers' prescriptions, payments and work orders sent to the laboratory.

• Operate optical measuring equipment

  Operate optical measuring equipment to take client's measurements; determine bridge and eye size, papillary distance, vertex distance, optical eye centres, etc., in order to manufacture customised eyeglasses or contact lenses.

• Apply organisational techniques

  Employ a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the goals set. Use these resources efficiently and sustainably, and show flexibility when required.

• Perform frames' repairs

  Repair/replace damaged frames or glasses for customers.

• Adjust eyeglasses to fit customers

  Shape and bend plastic or metal eyeglass frames in order to adjust eyeglasses to fit customers using pliers and hands and applying heat if necessary.

• Work in a multicultural environment in health care

  Interact, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.

• Inform policy makers on health-related challenges

  Provide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.

• Advise customers on eyewear maintenance

  Provide customers with detailed advice on the correct use and maintenance of eyewear.

• Contribute to continuity of health care

  Contribute to the delivery of coordinated and continuous healthcare.

• Comply with legislation related to health care

  Comply with the regional and national legislation that is relevant to one`s work and apply it in practice.

• Handle contact lenses

  Demonstrate how to insert, remove and care for contact lenses; ensure that contact lenses will fit correctly and feel comfortable.

• Provide health education

  Provide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.

• Comply with optical prescriptions

  Interpret and coordinate frames and eye measurements in accordance with the customer's optical prescriptions.

• Promote inclusion

  Promote inclusion in health care and social services and respect diversity of beliefs, culture, values and preferences, keeping in mind the importance of equality and diversity issues.

• Follow clinical guidelines

  Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.

• Manage healthcare users' data

  Keep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, written and electronic) are treated confidentially.

• Deal with emergency care situations

  Assess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.  

• Use lensometer

  Use a lensometer to take measurements for clients who do not have a prescription in order to make eyeglasses and lenses.

• Interact with healthcare users

  Communicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.

• Develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship

  Develop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.

• Advise on contact lense maintenance

  Advise patients on how to clean and wear contact lenses to maximise lifespan and minimise risk of complications.

• Ensure safety of healthcare users

  Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.

• Apply numeracy skills

  Practise reasoning and apply simple or complex numerical concepts and calculations.

• Cut lenses for eyeglasses

  Shape and cut lenses to fit into frames for eyeglasses, according to prescriptions or specifications.

• Work in multidisciplinary health teams

  Participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.

• Empathise with the healthcare user

  Understand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence. Demonstrate a concern for their welfare and handle according to the personal boundaries, sensitivities, cultural differences and preferences of the client and patient in mind.

• Prepare work orders for the optical laboratory

  Prepare and oversee work scheme and day-to-day activities for the optical laboratory.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB