Apprentice Optician FT Cincinnati, OH #150

Eyemart Express; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 17,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Eyemart Express in Cincinnati, OH is seeking an Apprentice Optician to help customers choose frames, lenses and coatings. You will ensure accurate measurements and prescriptions are entered for grinding, coating, and fitting, then dispense the finished glasses.

Candidates should be pursuing licensure to become a certified optician; prior retail or optical industry experience is preferred. The role offers hands-on training in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment.

Qualifications

• Customer-focused role in retail optical settings.
• Experience or interest in pursuing optician licensure.
• Familiarity with frames, lenses and coatings is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist patients in selecting eyeglass frames, lenses and coatings.
• Ensure accurate measurements and prescription details for grinding, coating and fitting lenses.
• Dispense glasses to patients after fitting and verification.
• Maintain patient files and HIPAA compliance.
• Process payments and handle returns as needed.
• Educate patients on lens care and product options.

Skills

Customer service

Retail sales

Communication skills

Prescription interpretation

Teamwork

Manual dexterity

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Optical industry exposure (preferred)

Tools

POS system

Prescription entry software

Job description

Career Opportunities with Eyemart Express

A great place to work.

Current job opportunities are posted here as they become available.

Your path to become a Licensed Optician starts here!

30 years ago, Dr. Barnes founded Eyemart Express to deliver everything a patient needs. It started with one friendly shop in Appleton, WI, and has since expanded to over 245 in 42 states. Today, Eyemart Express is celebrated for promptly delivering quality eyewear at great prices while maintaining great relationships with optometrists and local communities. We're not like everyone else, with local labs in stores, eye exams, and same-day delivery on glasses — our customers never miss a moment. Now, you can join one of the nation's top optical retailers and improve lives by helping people see better.

Job Description:

The Apprentice Optician will primarily assist patients in selecting the eyeglass frames, lenses and lens coatings that best suit their needs. The Apprentice Optician will also be responsible for ensuring the lab technicians have accurate measurements and prescription information for grinding, coating and fitting lenses to the frames. Once the glasses are complete, the Apprentice Optician is responsible for dispensing the glasses to the patient.

In this specialized role, we are looking for candidates who are either already working on, or would be interested in starting, their licensure to be a certified optician.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide exceptional customer service
• Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions as well as policies regarding payment, returns, exchanges
• Compute and process payment transactions/refunds using in-house Point of Sale system
• Perform other administrative tasks as assigned
• Process insurance claims
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of products
• Create and maintain patient files, following company and HIPAA policies regarding confidentiality.
• Input customer information into computer system
• Assess and interpret patient's needs/wants based upon prescription requirements, facial features, lifestyle, and occupation, and suggest most appropriate products (i.e. frames, lens type, coatings)
• Take necessary measurements (i.e. measuring the patient's pupillary distance)
• Prepare work order for lab ensuring all pertinent information is listed (i.e. patient information, prescription, lens size/type, measurements, special tinting or coating, etc.)
• Pull correct lenses according to work order specifications
• Inspect final product for accuracy; adjust completed glasses to fit patient using pliers, hands and heat if necessary to bend frames accordingly
• Educate patient on how best to care for their glasses
• Adjust/repair damaged frames, replace nose pads and missing screws
• Price, stock and straighten merchandise

Education and Experience Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• Experience working in retail, customer service, or sales
• Experience working in the optical industry is preferred

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to stand for prolonged periods of time (up to 8 hours per day per scheduled shift)
• Ability to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and/or pull up to approximately 25 lbs
• Must possess excellent hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills
• Ability to operate basic office equipment
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Ability to correctly read and interpret prescription specifications and input into computer properly to ensure lenses are cut properly
• Ability to multi-task
• Ability to identify and solve problems, and facilitate problem solving
• Time management skills - ability to prioritize and work quickly and efficiently when there are multiple customers to assist
• Ability to deal with stressful situations such as dissatisfied customers
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees
• Work is performed primarily in an indoor retail store setting
• High level of interaction with general public
• Work is independent and with patients
• Environment is often fast-paced and deadline oriented
• Work with small manual tools (screwdriver, pliers, etc.) on a regular basis
• Some exposure to dusts, fumes, glass and/or plastic lens particulates, standard chemicals found in optical lab (some of which may be allergenic), metal alloy (solid and melted), moderately high levels of noise, fluorescent lighting, cleaning agents and electrical energy in the lab

For roles that are remote (i.e., Work From Home (WFH)) or hybrid (i.e., partial onsite at a VSP location and WFH), must demonstrate a high level of engagement in virtual environments, including maintaining camera presence during meetings to support effective communication and team alignment.

VSP Vision is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to age, gender, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or protected veteran status. We maintain a drug‑free workplace and perform pre‑employment substance abuse testing.