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What is a Dispensing Optician?
The profession of ophthalmic dispensing is over 250 years old. As in the past, the supply of spectacles and other visual aids is important to modern society with over 25 million people wearing glasses in the UK alone. Of prime concern to every Dispensing Optician is the visual comfort of the patient.

A prescription issued by an optometrist (ophthalmic optician) or ophthalmic medical practitioner following an eye examination states the measure of the degree of the error on the patient’s sight. The Dispensing Optician’s skill and expertise lies in the interpretation of this prescription. From it he is able to supply an accurate aid to the patient’s vision, either spectacles, contact lenses or other appliances. The range of options is so varied that the odds of two people requiring exactly the same pair of glasses is well over 100 billion to 1.

What does a Dispensing Optician do?
The work of the Dispensing Optician involves prescription analysis on lens type, advice on styling of frames, taking frame or facial measurements and measurements in relation to lenses. Before any finished spectacles are deemed acceptable for a patient, they must be checked to ensure they correspond to the prescription and final ordered specifications and are suitable for the conditions in which they will be used. After the patient has received the new spectacles and been instructed how to get the best results from them, the Dispensing Optician is always available to offer advice and affect adjustments and repairs if necessary.

The supply and fitting of contact lenses involves different processes to fitting spectacles and after completion of the standard course, advanced courses are run for those wishing to specialise in the subject.

Dispensing optics offers immense job satisfaction to persons who enjoy dealing with the public.

Do I need any academic qualifications?
Five GCSE passes grades A* to C or an acceptable equivalent which must include English Literature or English Language, Mathematics and a Science based subject, plus two other subjects. Please note for students who wish to study via the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) Distance Learning Course, mathematics is required at A*, A or B grade.

For applicants who can provide evidence that they have a minimum of ten year’s optical experience the entry standard may be waived.

Whilst the above information may be used as a guide to entry standards you are strongly advised to contact the college/university of your choice to establish their entry requirements.

What types of training are there?
There are five ways to train as a Dispensing Optician:

1)      A three year distance learning course run by the ABDO, the student being employed by a qualified optician for the duration of the course. Practical experience is gained from the employment whilst theoretical knowledge is gained from the learning course, which includes compulsory block release attendance for two two-week periods at one of the colleges. The third year of the course is the student’s pre-registration year.

2)      A two year full-time course at one of the technical colleges, This is then followed by one year’s work, the pre-registration year, under the supervision of a qualified optician

3)      A three year full-time course in optical management leading to the ABDO’s Fellowship Diploma and a BSc Hon degree in Optical Management which is only available via Anglia Polytechnic University. (Two passes at GCE A-level are required for this course).

4)      A three year degree in Ophthalmic Dispensing with management is run via Bradford College (A-levels are required), please contact the college direct for further details.

5)      A day-release course, of three years duration, which are available at Bradford College, City and Islington College and Anglia Polytechnic University, These courses are linked to employment with a qualified optician and incorporate the pre-registration year.

Would I have any recognition at the end of my training?
Completion of the appropriate course, pre-registration year and successful results in the ABDO’s examination leads to the issue of a Fellowship Diploma and registration with the General Optical Council.

After successful completion of the basic course, advanced courses in Contact Lens Dispensing, Geometric Optics & Ophthalmic Lenses and the Management & Practice of Low vision Acuity may be taken. Further details of these are available from the association.

What are the career prospects?
There are a number of options for employment as a qualified Dispensing Optician.

Most high street optical practices employ a Dispensing Optician. However, some smaller independents may not or only offer a part-time position while some larger companies or practices may have two or more Dispensing Opticians in a single location.

With the range of further training courses available there will also be the chance to progress from spectacle dispensing into contact lens and low vision work as well. This can either be in the community within general optical practices or with the Hospital Eye Service. A lot of Dispensing Opticians also take on management roles, running either an individual branch or overseeing several for some of the larger companies.

There may also be the opportunity to put your technical skills to use working for one of the lens manufacturers that operate within the UK, either in technical support, buying or possibly product development.

If you are in any doubt about whether this career could be for you, try and speak to your local Dispensing Optician, arrange for some work experience and see first hand the type and variety of work performed.  

For more information contact the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, 6 Hurlingham Business Park, Sulivan Road, London SW6 3DU or telephone 0207 736 0088 or visit them online at www.abdo.org.uk