Opticians typically do the following:

• Receive customers' prescriptions for eyeglasses or contact lenses
• Measure customers' eyes and faces, such as the distance between their pupils
• Help customers choose eyeglass frames and lens treatments, such as eyewear for occupational use or sports, tints or anti-reflective coatings, based on their vision needs and style preferences
• Create work orders for ophthalmic laboratory technicians, providing information about the lenses needed
• Adjust eyewear to ensure a good fit
• Repair or replace broken eyeglass frames
• Educate customers about eyewear - for example, show them how to care for their contact lenses
• Perform business tasks, such as maintaining sales records, keeping track of customers' prescriptions, and ordering and maintaining inventory

Opticians who work in small shops or prepare custom orders may cut lenses and insert them into frames - tasks usually performed by ophthalmic laboratory technicians. For more information, see the profile on dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians.