Work Environment

Eyecare Specialists and Opticians who work as part of a group optometry or medical practice work with optometrists and ophthalmologists to provide eye-related medical care to patients. Other common work environments include stores that sell eyeglasses, contact lenses, visual aids, and other optical goods. These stores may be stand-alone businesses or parts of larger retail establishments, such as department stores.

Graduates of the Eyecare Specialist program at North-West College will be eligible to accept entry-level positions as a technician work as a technical assistant under a doctor’s supervision and are qualified to take the American Association of Opticianry examination. There are also jobs in optical laboratories, optical merchandising firms, fashion boutiques and other lens-related businesses.

Graduates of the program routinely find jobs working in:

• Ophthalmology offices
• Optometric offices
• Optical laboratories
• Hospitals and medical clinics
• Specialty lens-related eyecare centers
• Drug stores, pharmacies and department stores
• Other health care related facilities

Quick Facts about Eyecare Specialists*

• Employment of Eyecare Specialists and Dispensing Opticians is projected to grow 24 percent nationally from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations.

• The growth in the older population is anticipated to lead to greater demand for eye care services, as people usually have eye problems more frequently as they age.

• Optometrists and ophthalmologists are increasingly offering glasses and contact lenses to their patients as a way to expand their businesses, leading to a greater need for Eyecare Specialists in those settings.

• Increasing rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes may also increase demand for opticianry services because some chronic diseases cause vision problems.

• About half of opticians worked in offices of optometrists or offices of physicians in 2014.