Opticians also give advice to customers on frames and lens types. They help to select frames or types of lenses to meet the optical and vocational needs of the customer. Then opticians order the prescription from an optical laboratory. If the optician has his or her own laboratory, he or she also manufactures the glasses. When the eyeglasses are ready, opticians have to make sure that the eyeglasses are correct and adjust the eyeglasses to fit the customer.
Opticians also help to arrange for grinding and polishing contact lenses.
They help customers fit contact lenses and instruct them on how to insert, remove, and clean lenses. Those opticians who manage retail outlets also have business responsibilities that include looking after administration, finance, inventory and sales promotion. There are currently two methods of training for dispensing opticians. The first is to complete the Dispensing Optician Program offered by Douglas College, which is the only program of its kind in Western Canada. Applicants may be required to attend a personal interview.