Opticians in Training!

In our not-so-biased opinion – being an optician is one of the coolest jobs. Helping people to see by working with a patient to fill glasses prescriptions is incredibly rewarding. We are so excited to watch our new optician apprentices embark on this journey.

optician apprentice jordan and heather
Heather and Jordan, Optician Apprentice, August 2022

Heather and Jordan both come from strong customer service backgrounds. Being able to listen and help meet patient’s needs is critical for this role. With that foundation, they are working on adding the technical components of the job. These include:

  • Incoming quality inspection of all glasses orders
  • Repairing and adjusting glasses for patients
  • Understanding all the lenses, lens materials, and lens treatment option
  • Understanding the components of frames and which work well for different prescriptions and faces
  • Taking measurements for patient’s glasses
  • Entering orders and working with the lab who makes all our lenses.
optician apprentice takes pupillary distance measurement
Jordan practices taking Heather’s pupillary distance (PD) using a pupillometer.

Proper measurement for a pupillary distance is a critical part of making glasses! We have a small tolerance for error because we have seen patients experience unintended distortion and discomfort with glasses made to the wrong pupillary distance. Our optician apprentices practice taking the pupillary distance for the entire staff and compare to the measurements from our experienced opticians. We troubleshoot technique until they are repeatably and accurately taking the measurements!

This is a fun journey we look forward to sharing with you! If you come in the office in the next few months, you may work with one of our optician apprentices as they are still shadowing or in training. Thank you for your patience as we place a high value on training our opticians to help you find the best frames and lenses possible!

We’re Hiring!

Our patients love us because we love what we do. We are looking for an equally enthusiastic optician to join the team at Binyon Vision Center and help us serve more of the Bellingham community with amazing eyewear.

We have been taking care of eyes in downtown Bellingham since 1935. Our two doctors provide a thorough eye exam and our opticians guide patients through our independent frame lines and educate on the latest innovations in lenses. We’ll all argue Bellingham is the best place to live in the world and the community support for independent businesses is very strong.

As we grow we are excited to add to our team an optician apprentice or licensed dispensing optician with exceptional customer service skills. Optical experience is a plus, but we have on the job training available as well. An ideal fit for this position is someone with a passion for helping people and an eye for style. Our patients are our highest priority always, so excellent customer service is a must! Experience in customer focused jobs (retail, sales, food service, etc.) is mandatory. This is a full time position. We offer competitive salary based on experience, benefits and a matching 401k plan.

Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:

– Assisting patients with frame and lens selection

– Prescription verification and dispensing

– Adjustments and repairs

– Inventory management

– Order placement

Experience with Crystal Practice Management, DVI and VSP billing is a plus. Optimal candidates will be passionate about eyewear, eyecare and delivering top service and quality products to our patients. Must be able to work as a part of a close-knit team. To apply for this position with Binyon Vision Center, please submit cover letter and resume here. Emails preferred, no phone calls please. Compensation depends on experience.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $17.00 – $23.00 per hour

Benefits:

  • 401(k)
  • Dental insurance
  • Employee discount
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off

Schedule:

  • 8 hour shift

Supplemental Pay:

  • Bonus pay

COVID-19 considerations:
All staff must be fully vaccinated. Staff and patients must wear masks in the office.

Ability to commute/relocate:

  • Bellingham, WA 98225: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Experience:

  • Customer service: 2 years (Required)