r/optician

I work as an optician, and something about online glasses ordering concerns me: when a website lets someone enter prescription numbers without providing a copy of their prescription, how does the retailer know those numbers come from a valid, current prescription?I understand why people buy online, glasses can be expensive, and affordability matters. But I think there should be some verification that the prescription is legitimate and belongs to the person ordering. To me, simply accepting whatever numbers a customer types in doesn’t seem like enough. Am I missing a verification step that happens behind the scenes? If you’ve bought glasses online, did you have to upload your prescription, or could you just enter the numbers? And do you think proof of a valid prescription should be required?

Hi everyone,
I’m trying to figure out whether there’s any realistic chance that I’ll be able to order my glasses with 1.74 index lenses before Christmas 2026.
I’m in Poland and I’m currently dealing with the ongoing 1.74 lens shortage. My prescription is approximately +5.25 OD / +5.00 OS, with a small amount of astigmatism, and I’m using a 53 mm panto frame.
I was originally supposed to get Essilor 1.74 lenses through Vision Express, but they’ve been unavailable for some time. I’ve been offered Shamir 1.67 as an alternative, which I may have to go with, but ideally I’d still prefer 1.74.
I’ve seen some recent reports that Essilor 1.74 lenses are starting to become available again in certain labs, although apparently with limited availability and longer lead times.
For those of you working in optical labs/optical stores, especially in Europe:
Are you seeing any improvement in 1.74 availability right now?
Are Essilor 1.74 single-vision lenses actually being produced and shipped again?
Do you think there’s a realistic chance that a prescription around +5.00 to +5.25 could be made in 1.74 by December 2026?
Is the situation expected to improve significantly over the next 2–3 months?
I’m not necessarily expecting normal availability — I’m mainly wondering whether getting a pair made by Christmas is realistically possible.
Thanks!

Hey Folks,

Current Optometrist Practice Manager (&Administrator, Revenue Cycle Manager, Do-it-all person) salaried at $50K/Year working 4 days a week out of South Florida. I have 10 years optical experience, starting with lab work, then sales, and clinical and administrative-mixed-managerial.

It’s the equivalent of $30/hour. I fund my own health insurance via Healthcare Marketplace and it costs about $400 a month.

In 2 years, the time it would take me to get my Opticians License, I think I could be making $33 an hour at my current job.

I have an A.A. and as well, if I were to return to school for 2 years, I could also pursue a Bachelor degree instead of Optician License. I have a lot of experience in Eye care, but I’m open to doing other things.

My current employer only performs exams so I don‘t think I would receive a raise at my current job, so I’d be looking elsewhere. I feel I would end up being an Optician-Manager at an diff Optical, but could I get into the $40’s/Hr and $50’s/Hr?

I don‘t know the Optician side of the business - anyone care to inform me or burst my bubble?

Thank you.

Does anyone have any study tips? I’ve never been a big person who’s had to study before so I never developed my own tips and tricks.

I really want to try and study hard for the exams but I genuinely don’t know how to study. (Yes I know it sounds stupid).

Did y’all write stuff down in a notebook and study that? Watch videos and take notes? Study the notes you took?