Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
•   Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
•   Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
•   Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
•   Selling or Influencing Others Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
•   Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
•   Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
•   Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Working Life

Dispensing opticians supply and fit spectacles according to the prescription provided by an optometrist (ophthalmic optician). They measure the face and features of the patient precisely, in order to place the lenses at the right angle and ensure that the spectacle frame is comfortable and stable. They then prepare detailed instructions for the technicians who make the lenses.  
 
If any sign of injury, abnormality or disease of the eye is spotted, dispensing opticians refer the patient to a doctor or optometrist for further attention.  
 
Dispensing opticians advise clients on the choice of spectacles, which may involve aspects such as colour vision, problems of lighting and eye safety in industry. They must know enough about the relative merits of glass, plastic, laminated, coated and reinforced lenses, to help the client choose a lens appropriate to their needs (bearing in mind their job and leisure interests). They must also understand how lenses are made and the theory underlying the prescription.  
 
Some experienced dispensing opticians specialise in the dispensing of contact lenses, optical aids for the partially sighted, or the fitting of artificial eyes.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Evaluate prescriptions in conjunction with clients' vocational and avocational visual requirements.
• Recommend specific lenses, lens coatings, and frames to suit client needs.
• Verify that finished lenses are ground to specifications.
• Measure clients' bridge and eye sise, temple length, vertex distance, pupillary distance, and optical centers of eyes, using measuring devices.
• Sell goods such as contact lenses, spectacles, sunglasses, and goods related to eyes, in general.
• Assist clients in selecting frames according to style and color, and ensure that frames are coordinated with facial and eye measurements and optical prescriptions.
• Heat, shape, or bend plastic or metal frames to adjust eyeglasses to fit clients, using pliers and hands.
• Show customers how to insert, remove, and care for their contact lenses.
• Determine clients' current lens prescriptions, when necessary, using lensometers or lens analysers and clients' eyeglasses.
• Maintain records of customer prescriptions, work orders, and payments.

Further Information

• Dispensing Optician- from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

 Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

 Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

CORU Requirements

There are a variety of study routes for students wishing to pursue a career in the health and social care professions. However, not all courses lead to the direct path of being able to practise in Ireland once qualified. In Ireland, if you want to practise as a Dispensing Optician, you must be registered with CORU, - Ireland's regulator of health and social care professionals.

One of the functions of the Registration Boards at CORU is to approve and monitor education and training programmes. The purpose of regulating education and training programmes is to ensure that all graduates entering the Register meet the necessary standards and have the knowledge and skills required for public protection. This ensures the delivery of safe and effective practise to the benefit of the service user.

What does this mean when selecting a course to study in Ireland?

This is the current list of Approved Qualifications to work as a Dispensing Optician. If you achieve one of these qualifications, you are eligible to apply for CORU registration.

What about studying abroad, and practising in Ireland once qualified?

If your professional qualification is awarded outside of Ireland and you want to register and work in Ireland, the process is a little more complex. You must first apply to have that qualification recognised by the Registration Board for your profession.

To be eligible to apply for recognition of your international qualification, you must have completed professional training, which gives you eligibility to practise your profession in the country where you were awarded the qualification.

The Registration Board will assess your qualification as well as any other relevant qualifications and work experience for compliance with the standards required for practising in Ireland.

If you are unsure about health and social care regulation, CORU is happy to help with any questions. You can contact CORU at [email protected]

To work as a Dispensing Optician, you need to be registered with the Optical Registration Board, you need to complete an approved qualification.

Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research. 

Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate) 
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.

Example search terms include: ophthalmic, optometry.

Technological University (TU) Dublin is currently the only institution offering a Bachelor Degree (NFQ level 7) in ‘ophthalmic dispensing’ (TU761) or Optometry at NFQ level 8 (TU871) which is an approved course.

Search for CAO Courses

The first two years of the degree are delivered in the laboratories and classrooms at the DIT campus, and the third year is a structured work placement. Students are required to undergo Garda vetting.

Studying in the UK & Northern Ireland Optometry Search UCAS

Studying in Europe  Medical diagnostic optometry, Optometry Search Eunicas 

Professional Development 

Professional development (CPD) courses are specialised training, formal education, or advanced professional learning that improves skills, professional knowledge, competency, and overall effectiveness in the professional world.

Irish Association of Dispensing Opticians membership is a great way to stay up to date on developments in the field, access further training and making contacts.

While there is a shortage in Ireland, some may still want to work abroad. Irish registered Dispensing Opticians can currently work in Australia and TU Dublin is seek approval for graduates of the programme to work in the UK.

In order to work in other countries, you may be required to undertake additional national certification test and/or an adaption period.

TU Dublin’s Centre for Eye Research Ireland offers postgraduate research opportunities in this field.

Check the Useful Contacts tab on this page to see if there are any professional bodies listed who may provide training related to this career.

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €28k - €50k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Salary Expert/ Glassdoor / Salaryband

Last Updated: July, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Psychologists; Pharmacists; Opticians (including dispensing opticians); Dental practitioners; Veterinarians; Medical radiographers; Podiatrists; Health professionals n.e.c.; Health services and public health managers; and directors Social services; managers and directors Health care practice managers.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth was above the national average for this occupation, although employment in 2022 were similar to 2021 levels. The CSO Census data shows that employment was spread across a large number of roles in 2022, with increases across all within this occupation since 2016.

While the numbers employed have increased since 2016, for the most part, the supply from the education and training system has not, and plans to expand training will not have an impact on the potential supply to the labour market in the short-term, given the duration of training required. This has led to issues for a number of roles within this group; for instance, there is an increasing number of students opting to study veterinary medicine in Poland due to the lack of available places to study in Ireland.

Psychologists and pharmacists were added to the employment permits Critical Skills list in June 2022 although new permits issued in 2022 primarily related to radiographers/sonographers, with a small number issued for dentists and pharmacists. With a quarter of those employed aged 55 years or older, replacement demand alone will create job opportunities in the coming years. Demand remains high across these occupations and issues with recruitment are occurring; however, as the numbers employed are too small across the roles for detailed analysis, evidence of shortages are difficult to determine.

• Irish Association of Dispensing Opticians

  • PO Box 9013, 12 Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
  • (01) 668 0566
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Federation of (Ophthalmic and Dispensing) Opticians Ireland

  • Click Here

• Optical Registration Board at CORU

  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• CORU - Regulating Health & Social Care Professionals

  • Infinity Building, George’s Court, George’s Lane, Smithfield, Dublin 7, D07 E98Y
  • (01) 293 3160
  • [email protected]/ [email protected]/ [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Specsavers

  • Cirrus House 10 Experion Way Nottingham NG2 1EP
  • 0044 01566 771888/ 0044 0115 9330500
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here