Opticianry programs prepare people to match their patients with the best-fitting eyeglasses and contact lenses. Students learn to measure faces and eyes to help their patients choose frames. They learn to operate, clean, and maintain optical tools. They also learn to interpret prescriptions and keep records.

You may not know it, but Elton John is no stranger to the field of opticianry. This singer used to own some 4,000 pairs of eyeglasses! There's no doubt, then, that he's been helped by more than a few opticians. These eye care professionals had to make sure the frames that the singer picked were made with the correct prescription. Then they had to properly fit the glasses on his face.

Even without including Elton John in the numbers, studies show us that the eyewear market is growing. This growth is partly due to the rising number of middle-aged and elderly persons. Many people in these age groups start to wear glasses or contact lenses for the first time. Eyeglasses and contact lenses also now come in many different styles and with many new features, which encourages people to buy more than one pair.

A growing demand for corrective lenses means that we need more opticians. Opticians can work for an optometrist or ophthalmologist, which are two types of eye doctors. Or they can even manage their own optical offices. They are sometimes known as "optical pharmacists." This is because they "fill" an optical prescription by fitting their patients for glasses or contact lenses.

About a dozen schools in the U.S. offer certificates or associate degrees in opticianry. Certificate programs are the most common. There are also about five distance education programs as well. Graduates of these programs are then able to take exams for state and national certification. A certificate usually takes about one year of full-time study after high school. An associate degree typically takes two years.