Optical Assistant – Short Course
This course provides learners with a strong foundation in communication, prescriptions, common eye conditions, and the principles behind vision correction. They also build key practical skills, including focimetry, frame adjustments, precise facial and spectacle measurements, and a clear understanding of lens types, materials, and coatings.
By the end of the programme, your employee will be equipped to deliver accurate fittings, support dispensing across a wide range of lens designs — including varifocals and myopia‑management options — and confidently manage everyday dispensing challenges. This helps enhance patient care while reducing remakes within your practice.
Commitment:
Learners on this programme are expected to complete half a day per week of online, pre‑recorded learning. They will also work through portfolio-based assignments at their own pace, with ongoing support from GOC‑registered tutors.
Topics covered throughout the course:
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
To find out more about this course, please contact BusinessDevelopment@t2000.co.uk