Vision Care Technology
The
field of vision care technology refers to the three main professions
of the eye care specialists and their ancillary positions. Each of
these professions involves specific duties and requires different
levels of education. The Three O's
- Ophthalmology
- Optometry
- Opticianry
Ophthalmologist
(MD)
The ophthalmologist is a medical doctor whose specialty is the eye.
The ophthalmologist (MD) examines the eye, diagnoses and treats
ocular diseases using surgery or drugs, and refracts the eye.
Optometrist (OD)
The optometrist is a doctor of optometry who examines, measures
and treats certain visual defects by means of optics or other methods
that are not medical. Optometrists cannot perform surgery like a
physician but in most states are allowed to prescribe therapeutic
drugs (i.e. antibiotics and antihistamines).
Dispensing Optician
and Contact Lens Fitter
The optician analyzes and interprets prescriptions, measures, adapts,
selects and fits eyeglasses or contact lenses for the correction
of visual and ocular anomalies.
An optician must be able
to:
- Interview, observe and analyze
- Interpret, counsel
- Order, dispense and document
- Supervise, improvise and empathize
- Communicate
- Get along with people
Many opticians solely engage
in the practice of contact lens fitting, while others incorporate
contact lens fitting in a general practice of vision care. Additional
skills required for contact lens fitting include a comprehensive
knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the eye and instrumentation
procedures.
Laboratory
Optician
The laboratory optician fabricates the prescription, specifies (lens
and frame) stock selection, formulates lens specifications and performs
all technical functions in the making of eyewear. The laboratory
optician, also sometimes called a mechanical optician, usually has
little contact with the public. He or she still needs to possess
the managerial skills and communication skills of a dispensing optician.
He or she needs to have supervisory and communication skills to
work with the personnel on the sales floor and in the wholesale
laboratories.
Places of Opticianry Employment
According to eye care industry sources, retail optical sales surpassed
$15.8 billion in 1999. Those sales were divided between the 3 O's
as follows: Ophthalmologist: 15%
Optometrist: 28%
Chain Optical: 34%
Independent Optician: 18%
Ophthalmologists
The typical ophthalmologist sees 50.2 patients per day and writes
15.6 prescriptions for eyeglasses per day. Of those prescriptions,
the average “capture rate” for the ophthalmology dispensary
is 63.1%, or 9 pairs of glasses or contact lenses.
Ophthalmologists routinely employ opticians to dispense eyewear in their medical office. The most often given reasons for office dispensing are patient convenience, quality of care, maintaining care, expanding access to patients, staying competitive in the market, profitability of dispensary (increase in practice revenues), and facilitating involvement in managed care.
Optometrists
Optometrists have expanded their scope of practice. Forty states
now allow optometrists to dispense therapeutic drugs (TPA's). Many
OD's also concentrate on contact lenses. Optometrists dispense eyewear
through their office, again the most often given reasons for office
dispensing are patient convenience, quality of care, maintaining
care, expanding access to patients, staying competitive in the market,
profitability of dispensary (increase in practice revenues), and
facilitating involvement in managed care.
Chain Opticals
At 34% of retail optical sales, chain stores hold the largest share
of the optical marketplace. The top ten retailers hold 11.9% of
that share. The top ten include Cole, Lenscrafters, Pearl Vision,
and National Vision Associates (Wal Mart Vision Centers).
Independent Opticians
Independent opticians generally carry a larger percentage of high
and very high quality eye care products (ophthalmic frames and lenses)
compared to the industry average (40% are from designer name brands).
They also dispense more premium lens products than the industry
average.
The independent optician offers professional service and one-on-one relationships with patients, carries premium lens and frame products, and specializes in specific optical needs of the patient. Smaller optical businesses must build strong relationships with their clientele to be successful. This strong relationship with the customer will allow the optician to compete in the marketplace. The optician can be an owner, partner or an employee of an ophthalmologist or optometrist. The optician can also be employed in a corporate chain or independent optical store.
Graduates of the
Department of Vision Care Technology are successfully
engaged as opticians in all the areas of practice.
