An optician is a trained person who makes and fits glasses and contact lenses based on a prescription from an eye doctor.
From French “opticien,” from “optique” meaning “optic, relating to sight,” which comes from Greek “optikos” (of seeing). It originally referred more broadly to someone dealing with lenses and optical instruments.
Opticians don’t usually test your eyes; they translate the doctor’s numbers into actual lenses you can wear. They’re like ‘vision engineers,’ turning abstract measurements into a world that suddenly looks sharp again.
As with many health-related professions, opticianry has seen gendered divisions of labor, with women often concentrated in lower-status or customer-facing roles while men dominated ownership or technical leadership.
Refer to opticians with gender-neutral language and avoid assuming their gender from the role. Highlight contributions from professionals of all genders when discussing the field’s development.
Women opticians and vision-care workers have played important roles in expanding access to corrective lenses and eye care, though their contributions are often framed as routine rather than professional expertise.
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