When first arriving in an opticians it can be confusing as to the roles of each member of staff. It can be especially confusing when multiple names exist for a single role. Optical assistants, Optical consultants and Optical advisors all occupy the same role. These individuals will mostly assume roles such as administrative duties by booking appointments and assisting Dispensing Opticians and Optometrists. Their typical duties would normally include (but not limited to) utilising the pre eye examination testing machines to produce results that will be interpreted by an Optometrist and assisting patients with a low prescription in choosing frames and lenses. While these roles receive internal training from their employer, they are not registered optical professionals and thus are restricted in the service they can provide.

There are two primary professional roles that you will find in an optical practice; one being the Dispensing Optician and the other is the Optometrist. Optometrists will conduct your eye examination and provide your resultant prescription. A Dispensing Optician will conduct the dispensing of a pair of spectacles or low vision aid to best suite your visual requirements. While the Optometrists role is more commonly understood by the public, a Dispensing Opticians role is sometimes clouded by the vast number of optical assistant roles that has populated large high street chains and franchises. A Dispensing Optician undergoes professional training and is an expert in their field. The easiest way to describe the relationship of a Dispensing Optician and an Optometrist is by likening it to the relationship between a Pharmacist and a General Practitioner (GP). While the GP will initially assess the patient and give them a prescription of drugs and medicine, the Pharmacist will ultimately advise an appropriate dosage and median of taking the medication (e.g. via injection, ointment, drops, inhaler, etc). Using the same analogy, you can liken an Optical assistant to a Pharmaceutical assistant. Whereby they help Pharmacists by ordering stock, distributing prescriptions, preparing and organising medicines. Like an Optical assistant, they are not professionals but are like cartilage between bone joints and help the Optical practice run as intended.

What does it take to be a Dispensing Optician?

·       There are various routes to becoming a Dispensing Optician. Each has been certified by the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) and the General Optical Council (GOC). Successful completion of the below mentioned courses will allow you to either undertake your Prequalification Period (PQP) or they will take place simultaneously with your PQP. Some of the methods of becoming a Dispensing Optician include:

-        The BSc (Hons) Ophthalmic Dispensing course with Anglia Ruskin University (or other such universities that offer the undergraduate course)

-        The 3-year Fellowship Dispensing Diploma. This is a blended learning course which comprises of lectures at ABDO College, distance learning and practical aspects in the practice of employment.

·       All the routes require at least 3 years of training and a year undertaking a Prequalification period (PQP) supervised by a registered Optical professional such as a Dispensing Optician, Contact Lens Optician or an Optometrist.

·       All Dispensing Opticians must be registered to the General Optical Council (GOC) and the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO).

What are the roles and responsibilities of a Dispensing Optician?

·       A Dispensing Optician is a specialist in analysing and interpreting prescriptions and the dispensing of spectacles catered to the patients’ needs and lifestyle requirements. A Dispensing Optician will ask a patient a series of questions to determine what spectacle and lens combinations will best suite the patient to correct their vision and allow them to complete visual tasks unimpeded. A Dispensing Optician can also dispense low vision aids, safety spectacles and dispense spectacles for patients that are under the age of 16. They may also refer patients to hospital/Ocular emergency clinics for symptoms that warrant concern for the patient’s eye health and for anterior pathology/trauma. A Dispensing Opticians role is key in delivering the best optical service to the general public.

·       They have a unique space in the process of delivering eyecare and are usually the final point in contact with the patient before they conclude their visit to the practice. Some patients may not have fully understood their visual condition or the nature of their prescription but wasn’t presented enough time during the testing process or didn’t feel comfortable asking the Optometrist at that point. A Dispensing Optician has studied the visual pathway, common eye conditions, the refractive properties of the eye and can answer the majority of questions presented by the patient.

Further/continued studying

·       A Dispensing Optician has to continuously study to keep up to date with the latest technological advancements in order to provide the best service. These consist of varies activities such as peer discussions, attending lectures and events. They have to accumulate a certain number of Continuing Education and Training (CET) points to remain a member of the GOC and renew their licence to practice.

·       In addition to dispensing the best lenses and frame for a patient’s visual requirements; Dispensing Optician that have adapted to the market in fashionable eyewear will also receive training in the latest frames and models that will suite you. Optical chains usually have a series of e-learning programs that help Dispensing Opticians and other members of staff become familiar with the brands they carry to help advise the patient on styling choices. Whereas some independent practices will have brand representatives visit the practice and provide training on the brands they carry. In addition, some Dispensing Opticians will go to optical events and expositions such as 100% Optical and Silmo to explore the vast array of spectacles and sunglasses that will release in the coming seasons.

·       A Dispensing Optician can also specialise in Low Vision and contact lenses. This requires further training either through ABDO College or an equivalent learning institute.

If you have any questions about the role of a Dispensing Optician or if you interested in what it is like to be a Dispensing Optician, then please leave a comment below.

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