OPHTHALMIC DISPENSING
(Optician)
Program Description
Ophthalmic Dispensers (Opticians) are licensed professionals who dispense eyeglasses and/or contact lenses to the public from prescriptions written by eye doctors.
With the increase in the nation's population and the aging of the baby boomer generation, the demand for ophthalmic dispensing services and a trained corps of ophthalmic professionals has risen. This demand exists in private businesses, health maintenance organizations, nationwide chain store operations, professional eye care offices and in other areas including ophthalmic sales, supply and laboratories.
The program's goals are to provide the necessary theoretical and practical training to enable students to successfully complete the American Board of Opticianry Examination, National Contact Lens Examination and New York State Licensing exams in Ophthalmic Dispensing and Contact Lenses.
Classroom lecture and laboratory training involves the careful selection, measuring and fitting of eyewear and lenses unique to each person. Laboratory skills also include the actual fabrication of eyewear. In the case of contact lenses, the use of sophisticated instruments and evaluation techniques are used to design and dispense contact lenses to each individual.
Students will be trained in the use of computers to maintain patient histories and prescription requirements. To complement their classroom and laboratory training, students will participate in an externship at participating doctor’s offices and dispensing facilities. Second year students gain purposeful clinical experience through supervised participation in the community eye clinic which offers eye examinations and prescription eyeglasses to those in need in the community.
Upon graduation of the program students participate in credentialing exams administered by the American Board of Opticianry and the National Contact Lens Examiners and state licensure exams through the Office of Professions, New York State Education Department.
Department Note
Students must maintain a 2.00 QPA in all ophthalmic courses.
Accreditation
The Ophthalmic Dispensing Program at Erie Community College is accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation (COA). Specialized accrediting agencies, such as the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation, exist to assess and verify educational quality in various professions or occupations to ensure that individuals entering those disciplines will be qualified. The accrediting agency develops the educational standards by which programs are evaluated based on skills and knowledge necessary for that profession, conducts program evaluation and publishes a list of accredited programs that meet the national accreditation standards.
COA Contact Information:
Commission on Opticianry Accreditation
Debra White, Director of Accreditation
PO Box 592
Canton, NY 13617
e-mail: director@COAccreditation.com
voice: 703.468.0566
Special Admission Requirements/Prerequisite
- Applicant must be a high school graduate
- Applicants should have at least 75 percent high school average
- Transfer students must have an overall QPA of 2.0 to gain admittance to this program
- Advance transfer credit for general education or professional courses in which a "C" or above was earned may be arranged when course descriptions match ECC courses
- In addition to tuition, students will be responsible for paying for a set of ophthalmic tools, liability insurance and a name tag for use in off-campus clinical work
- Students are responsible for providing transportation to off-campus fieldwork sites utilized for general dispensing practice course
- Exceptions to the above criteria may be made for returning adult students and for those currently working in the field
Scholarships
The following scholarships are awarded to the Ophthalmic Dispensing student population annually:
- NYSSO Student Scholarship, $250; sponsored by the New York State Society of Opticians
- NFOS College Bowl Accomodations Award; sponsored by National Federation of Opticianry Schools.
- Joseph George Optical Scholarship, $250; sponsored by Joseph George Optical through ECC Foundation
- Lenscrafters Scholarships, $500; sponsored by Lenscrafters, Inc.
- Student Grant Award of $100 and Corneal Reflection Pupilometer sponsored by Essilor of America
- Richard Terry Memorial Scholarship, $250; sponsored by friends of Dick Terry
- Optical Society of Western NY, $200; College Bowl Travel Award; sponsored by the Optical Society of WNY.
Students are encouraged to participate in additional academic scholarship award contests provided on a local and national basis. Scholarships are available to matriculated students only.
Degree: Associate in Applied Science
Hegis: 5212
Curriculum Code: 0549
Total Degree Credits: 65.5
Campus Location: North
Health Sciences Division