Patients often wonder what the difference between online eyewear vs eyewear purchased through an optician.  An educated skilled optician is going to be able to choose the right lens and frame options to provide your best vision.  They also have the tools and knowledge to ensure that your prescription is created to the doctors specifications, using the proper measurements.  A good analogy is the difference in buying a dress or suit off the rack vs having one tailored to you.  The tailored one is always going to look and feel better.  We may not all be able to have an entire wardrobe tailor made for us, but tailored eyewear is affordable for most of us.

Here are the different qualifications our state opticians may hold:

State Certification: This means the optician has registered with the state and has to keep up with education to maintain certification, but only requires a $110 registration fee to the state.

ABOC : An optician with this certification has passed a national competency test in opticianry and can be expected to have a good knowledge of optics. It is also required to maintain continuing education to keep your certification.

ABOC-AC : An optician with this certification has passed an advanced competency test in opticianry and has shown a strong aptitude in optics.  This certification also requires continuing education.

ABOM : This designation is for an optician whom has passed their ABO-AC and has written or taught several advanced opticianry courses.  The Master optician would have a high level of knowledge of optics and lens designs.

NCLE : This is a certification for an optician who has passed a national competency test for the fitting and dispensing of contact lenses.

NCLE-AC : This is a certification for an optician who has passed a advanced competency test in contact lens fitting and dispensing.

LDO : An optician with this designation is a licensed optician with one of the states that requires opticians be licensed.  The requirements vary from state to state, but you can be assured they have at least passed a minimum competency test and are required to have done an apprenticeship or have an associates degree in opticianry.

Our state does not require opticians to be licensed, but we as a state society encourage all opticians to become ABO certified.

If you would like to see the opticians in our state licensed or at least pass a minimum standards test, please let your state representatives know by signing our petition.  

• Petition for Licensing