Profession of optician-eyewear maker
Designing, assembling and marketing optical correction devices and instruments is the daily life of the optician. Find out more about the profession: mission, salary, possible training, retraining.

What is an Optician?
In the field of visual health, the optician is a reference.

Sometimes confused with the ophthalmologist or compared to a simple eyeglass salesman, the profession of optician is an exciting and multifaceted profession that is on the rise, especially because of the aging of the population.

Of course, the part of advising clients is important, but the technical dimension of the position is far from secondary.

First of all, the optician must provide special assistance to customers in possession of a prescription from the ophthalmologist with whom he collaborates hand in hand in order to help them choose the frame, lenses or lenses according to their lifestyle, the shape of their face and their visual impairment. He also sells sunglasses, cleaning products, etc. and can carry out certain examinations necessary for the purchase of glasses (visual analysis, centering of the eyes) and is authorized, subject to certain conditions, to renew corrective lenses even though there is no medical prescription.

The optician is also a technician. He makes or has made the glasses and lenses according to the order placed, adjusts the lenses according to the frame and makes various adjustments so that the frame of the glasses is comfortable for his customer.

As a shopkeeper, the optician must ensure the attractiveness of his shop: highlighting the products, welcoming point of sale, professional staff.

Finally, the optician provides after-sales service and any repairs (broken or deformed temples, adjustments, lens changes).

The optician generally starts as an employee of an optical establishment, in a central purchasing office or a mutual insurance centre. Subsequently, many professionals decide to open their own shop.

Missions of the optician
Understand the prescription and advise the customer from a technical and aesthetic point of view.
Market products and accessories by guiding the customer in the choice of corrective lenses, lenses, frames, etc.
Adapt the lenses to the frame
Have the client try on the glasses and adjust them to ensure their visual comfort and final aesthetics.
Perform optometric examinations and assess the patient's visual abilities themselves if necessary.
Replace glasses or lenses without a doctor's prescription as needed.
Where does an optician work?
Opticians practice their profession in various types of establishments. The most common place of work is the optical shop, whether independent or part of a chain.
These establishments offer a range of vision-related products, such as frames, prescription lenses and contact lenses.

Some opticians work in eye care centers, which may be linked to eye clinics or be independent entities. These centers offer comprehensive optical services, from diagnostics to the supply of glasses and contact lenses.

Opticians can also practice their profession in hospital settings, providing optical services to patients, whether for outpatient or inpatient care.

Some opticians choose to work in the optical industry, participating in activities such as the design, production, or quality control of corrective lenses, frames, or other optical products.

Profession Trend
Faced with the need for opticians in the region (nearly half of the French require optical equipment), young graduates generally find a job very quickly as employees in one of the 11000 French points of sale. Moreover, according to the Higher Institute of Optics (ISO), 84% of graduate students find a job within 3 months of graduating.

However, it is true that salaries tend to decrease over the years.

Working conditions
The working conditions of opticians depend on various factors such as the place of employment, the type of establishment, local regulations, and specific responsibilities.

Opticians often work on Saturdays, or even on public holidays or Sundays, especially during the holidays. Customer interaction is an important component of the job, requiring customer service skills, the ability to provide advice and explain medical prescriptions in an understandable manner.

The use of specialized technologies, such as automated machines and computerized systems, is common.

Continuing education is often necessary to stay up to date on technological advances, fashion trends in eyewear and new vision care practices.

Why a reconversion as an optician

Maximum sector employability rate
High remuneration
A job that makes sense, you will feel useful to others
Constantly evolving profession
Training to become an optician
To become an optician, it is mandatory to complete a training course. Several solutions are available to you, accessible both in the context of initial training and in continuing education, allowing you to easily retrain as an optician.

Initial training
BAC level
Professional Baccalaureate in Optics and Eyewear. This professional baccalaureate is prepared in three years after the third year and allows access to the functions of assembler-salesman or workshop manager. The holder of the professional baccalaureate in Optics and Eyewear works mainly in optical shops, where he assists the optician and will not be able to open his own shop.
Level BAC+2
BTS optician-eyewear maker. It is prepared in two years and is accessible to any holder of a baccalaureate: baccalaureate S, STMG, STL, baccalaureate pro optics eyewear etc... This BTS aims to achieve professional integration as an optician but also allows students to continue their studies.
Level BAC+3
Professional optical license. It is prepared in one year after a baccalaureate + 2 level diploma and allows you to specialize or acquire a double skill Bachelor's degree in eyewear designer or optician manager. It is prepared in one year after a baccalaureate + 2 level diploma and allows you to specialize or acquire a double skill
Formation continue
As part of a professional development or reorientation, it is possible to become an optician through continuing education for adults by preparing for the BTS optician-eyewear maker or by obtaining the professional title (TP) technician in optics and eyewear assembly and sales, which allows you to sell and produce optics and eyewear equipment and products under the responsibility of a qualified optician.

Qualities to become an optician
Meticulousness The optician handles high-precision optical equipment on a daily basis, the proper use of which will make it possible to provide a finished product offering visual comfort. Similarly, assembly operations, even mechanized, require great attention to detail in the daily life of customers by being directly impacted in the event of failure.

Sense of contact
The optician is above all a shopkeeper who must know how to sell and advise while always knowing how to remain pedagogical, patient and friendly. The optician must listen to his customers, be available, warm and sociable. He is also a good trader.

Adaptability
With technological developments, the profession of optician changes regularly. The professional must therefore be very curious about these developments in order to adapt to them.

Essential basic skills to get started
To know
Ergonomics
Eyewear / Optics
Optometry
Contactology
Optical measurements
Glass treatment
Hygiene and aseptic rules
Use of optical measuring devices (reflectometer, optical power meter, etc.)
Use of optical mounting hardware
Optical lens features
Know-how
Take measurements for the realization of the optical equipment and draw up the execution sheet of the work
Prepare the lenses (centering, axing, assembly, etc.), try on the customer and make adjustments
Monitor inventory status
Define supply requirements
Organize and control a supply
Receiving products, raw materials, checking the conformity of a delivery
Follow up on orders, invoicing
Ensure the administrative management of an activity
Carry out operations related to human resources management
(Source: ROME)

Possible evolutions of the optician
After several years of experience, an optician can progress to the position of manager in a large brand or decide to open his own shop in his own name or as a franchise.

Collaboration with eye health professionals, such as optometrists and ophthalmologists, is another possibility for opticians. They can assist these professionals in providing comprehensive eye care.

Some also decide to specialize in contactology or optometry by taking additional training.

What is the salary of an optician?
Young opticians start at around €2,000 gross per month at the beginning of their career. The profession of optician is one of the well-paid retraining professions.