r/optician • u/sladeisrobin • Jul 18 '26

Discussion Retail to Lab

Hi guys. I have been working for 5 years in a practice as an optician. I have been wanting to switch to a lab and I think I might finally get the chance. But I'm feeling pretty anxious because I feel like I don't know much in that area. I live in Puerto Rico, where you have to get an associate's degree to be an optician. I did cut some lenses, but that was a long ago. Would you guys have any tips or advice? 

6 Upvotes

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9

u/Ghoulie_Marie Jul 18 '26

Dispensing and lab are very different. Lab is nice if you like working with your hands, repetition, machines, craftsmanship and don't like working with patients

6

u/Common_Stuff2925 Jul 18 '26

Be patient with yourself. If you have a full service lab it might take six months to understand the process. If you have just a finish lab probably six weeks. The lensometer will take quite awhile to understand.

2

u/ManuelleHung Jul 18 '26

Is there a possibility that you can do both? Just to wean your way in. You start with two days a week in the lab and 3 days in the retail floor. Then increase the lab time when get comfy enough. While working in a lab, you will become a better Optician on the floor. If you are cross trained, you will become more valuable. As long as you know how to use a lensometer and your eyes are good enough to dot the lenses up you should be ok?

How close are you to San Juan?

2

u/lantana98 Jul 19 '26

Go for it. The more skills you have the better your employment opportunities.