Optician

Job Description

Primary Accountability

The Optician is responsible for dispensing and fitting spectacles and other optical aids, to both adults and children, working from the prescriptions written by optometrists.

Description of Primary Responsibilities

1. Supports and assists patients with various aspects in optical.
   1. Assists patients in selecting frames according to style and color and ensure that frames are coordinated with facial and eye measurements and optical prescriptions.
   2. Recommends specific lenses style, lens materials, and lens coatings that meet the patient's prescription and needs.
   3. Heat, shape, or bend plastic or metal frames in order to adjust eyeglasses to fit patients, using pliers and hands.
   4. Repairs broken frames and replace lenses into new frames.
   5. Takes appropriate measurements, such as patient's bridge and eye size, temple length, vertex distance, pupillary distance, and optical centers of eyes, using measuring devices.
2. Supports and assists the Optometrist.
   1. Interprets, transposes, and converts prescriptions written by the Optometrist.
   2. Determines the need for the patient to return to the Optometrist for spectacle or contact lens related checks.
   3. Schedules patient appointments.
3. Performs insurance authorization and submission.
   1. Verifies and authorizes insurance coverage for frame, lenses and contact lenses.
   2. Identifies the correct ICD10 codes to apply to the vision claim.
   3. Determines the appropriate CPT code for frames, lenses, coatings, and contact lenses to apply to the patient's insurance claim.
   4. Reviews and submits all vision insurance claims for various payers.
   5. Collects copayments and any overages on frame, lenses, and contact lenses from the patient.
4. Creates work orders for outside lab vendors.
   1. Inputs and reviews frame, lenses, lens coatings, and measurements in the optical software to prepare a lab order.
   2. Submits frame and lens orders electronically to the appropriate lab for processing.
   3. Prints lab orders and attaches to frames for shipment to the lab.
   4. Creates and monitors patient's job tray throughout the lab-processing phase until patient pick up.
5. Performs patient dispensing.
   1. Verifies and documents all incoming orders for accuracy or defects by inspecting and neutralizing the lenses with a lensometer.
   2. Communicates with the lab for any lab processing errors.
   3. Notifies patients of orders that are ready for pick up and documents all interactions.
   4. Dispenses spectacles and the care kit to patients.
   5. Instructs patient in care and use of glasses or contact lenses.
6. Ensures that optical is cleaned and the boards are restocked on a timely basis.
7. Responsible for ordering, maintaining, organizing and reconciling frame and supply inventory.
   1. Generates necessary purchasing requests to ensure inventory levels are at appropriate par levels.
   2. Ensures inventory is appropriately tracked in the optical software.
8. Performs documentation in the patient's electronic health record according to policy and training.
   1. Scans relevant documents into the electronic health record system.
9. Conducts weekly testing and weekly/monthly cleaning of sterilization equipment and the sterilization of optical equipment.
10. Responsible for adhering to the Attendance and Absenteeism Policy, recognizing that regular attendance is considered an essential function of all FHCN positions. Absenteeism is not being at work or failing to attend a paid workshop, training, or event unless the absence is protected by law.
11. Ability to present to and work at any FHCN location, both at the beginning of a shift or during a shift, based on business need.
12. Performs other duties as assigned.

Description of Primary Attributes

Professional & Technical Knowledge:

Effective June 1, 2026, all individuals hired into the role must:

1. Must have proof of completion of high school with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 or completion of General Educational Development (GED) with a minimum overall score of 162.5.
2. If an individual has completed a degree at a higher level than required by the role and had a stronger GPA in that program, they may provide proof of GPA from that degree in lieu of the high school diploma.
3. Have a minimum of two years of experience and knowledge of office or administrative processes and practices, typically learned on the job.
4. Have a minimum of two years of Optometry or Ophthalmology experience.

Technical Skills:

1. Ability to prepare basic correspondence and simple reports in Microsoft Word.
2. Ability to use Microsoft Excel to create tables and simple displays of information.
3. Ability to create basic presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint.

Licenses & Certifications: American Board of Opticianry (ABO) certified preferred.


Communications Skills:

1. Job duties require the employee to effectively communicate routine or non-technical information to co-workers and others.
2. Effectively communicates written information (including electronic correspondence) and verbal presentations.

Physical Demands: The physical demands here in this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit and use repetitive hand movement to type and grasp. The employee is frequently required to stand or walk; and occasionally bend waist, twist waist, squat, climb, kneel, reach above shoulder height as well as below shoulder height, and/or move items up to 20 pounds.

Pay Scale:

Min Hourly Rate: $25.00

Max Hourly Rate: $30.00