Optical Assistants (Short Course)

Across the course, they’ll gain a solid grounding in communication, prescriptions, eye conditions, and the reasons behind vision correction. They also develop strong practical competencies, including focimetry, frame adjustments, accurate facial and spectacle measurements, and an understanding of lens types, materials, and coatings.

By the end of the programme, your employee will be able to deliver accurate fittings, support dispensing across a range of lens designs — including varifocals and myopia management options — and confidently handle common dispensing challenges, helping improve patient care and reduce remakes within your practice

Commitment:
Join our program with ½ day per week of online, recorded learning. Complete portfolio-based assignments at your own pace, with ongoing support from GOC registered tutors.

Topics covered:

Communication skills, customer types & understanding prescriptions
Covers effective communication, recognising different customer needs, barriers to communication, and interpreting prescriptions, vision issues, ocular conditions, and transposition.
The human eye & why glasses are needed
Basic eye anatomy and the reasons behind refractive error and vision correction.
Spectacle checking, focimetry & frame materials
Introduces spectacle verification techniques, focimetry skills, and the properties and uses of different frame materials.
Frame tools and spectacle fitting (parts 1 & 2)
Combines tool identification, professionalism and consent, the fitting triangle, and practical fitting principles including length to bend, angle of let-back, angle of side, bridge fit, and side-shortening.
Frame and facial measurements & measurement accuracy
Covers PDs (distance, near, binocular and monocular), digital and manual methods, detecting strabismus, and the consequences of inaccurate measurements
Frame fitting, styling & best fit
Focuses on selecting, adjusting, and styling frames to achieve optimal comfort, vision, and aesthetics.
Lens product knowledge & materials
Includes single vision, bifocals, varifocals, occupational lenses, myopia management, lens materials, and decentration.
Lens coatings & tints
Explains scratch-resistant coatings, anti-reflection coatings, and a range of tint options.
Dispensing measurements & lens performance
Covers PDs, heights, pantoscopic tilt, vertex distance, refractive index, blank size, lens form, and understanding power diagrams and lens thickness.
Problem solving, avoiding remakes & concern handling
Teaches how to resolve fitting issues, improve comfort and vision, minimise remakes, and manage patient concerns effectively.
Handling varifocal non-tolerance
Explores accommodation, adaptation, and strategies for supporting patients who struggle with varifocals

Assessment methods:
Successful completion of weekly tasks and practical skills in practice that will need to be observed and signed off by an in-house mentor