Opticianry to Optometry

[optics2020]

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Hi Everyone,

for all current Optometrist and students, did anyone of you start out as opticians before deciding to pursue optometry? I am currently going for opticianry but I plan to pursue optometry afterwards. Would anyone in this situation be so kind to tell me what it's like to make such a change in their career? A change from opticianry to optometry in my opinion seems like a great change because to do so an optometrist can also fabricate and dispense glasses as well which makes an optometrist more efficient in the optical industry, though I may be wrong but this is part of the reason why Im deciding to become an optometrist. Unless, they teach students to fabricate lenses and dispense as well in optometry school.

 

[qwopty99]

How old are you? Are you a mature student?

Why do opticianry first?

 

[IndianaOD]

OD students are taught how to fabricate lenses. They are also taught all the optics and physics to understand why such things are done.

If you want to be an OD I would skip opticianry. Realize though that you need to have a lot of undgrad science to apply to OD school.

 

[cpw]

You can skip opticianry school and learn it at OD school. Better yet, you can get a job working with a doctor and have their optician teach you how to edge/generate/dispense before you even get to OD school. Then, you'll have experience for school AND a good OD recommendation letter 🙂

 

[JMU07]

Better yet, you can get a job working with a doctor and have their optician teach you how to edge/generate/dispense before you even get to OD school. Then, you'll have experience for school AND a good OD recommendation letter 🙂

This is what I did! Highly recommended. 😀

Seriously though, I really enjoyed being trained in the optical and in the lab. I didn't think I'd like it at first but I learned a lot of valuable information!