Level 2 Qualification for Optical Assistants

This unit reviews the range of professions and optical bodies in the optical world, with an emphasis on the functions of the General Optical Council. Focus is also given to the NHS provision for optics and General Ophthalmic Services (GOS). An essential unit for anybody new to the world of optics.  

 Your learning goals:

• Understand the different professions in optics
• Understand the different bodies involved in optics
• The NHS and optics

Excellent communication skills are essential if you are to provide great customer service. This unit covers areas of verbal communication, written communication, body language and active listening, questioning techniques, and how to handle different types of customers. Ideal for somebody who has limited experience in customer service.

Your learning goals:

• Understand oral communication
• Understand written communication
• Understand how to communicate with different types of customers

This unit begins by looking at the main parts of the eye, their structure, and their functions. This is followed by an explanation of emmetropia and the different types of ametropia (including astigmatism and presbyopia). The components of the spectacle prescription are then explained, before the final section of the unit, which gives an understanding of the big four causes of visual impairment and their management (glaucoma, cataract, diabetic eye disease and age-related macular degeneration). This unit is recommended for anyone who is in a patient-facing role where patients may ask questions.

Your learning goals:

• Understand the anatomical structures of the eye and their functions
• Understand common refractive errors
• Understand the components of a spectacle prescription
• Understand common eye conditions

This unit examines the customer journey, from their first point of contact, booking an appointment, NHS GOS rules, the day of their eye examination, all the way through to when the customer collects their new spectacles from the practice. This will give anybody new to optics a good understanding of all of the stages of the customer journey.

Your learning goals:

• Understand the appointment booking process
• Understand customer entitlements to NHS services in optics
• Understand the eye examination, ordering and production processes
• Understand order receipt, checking and the collection process

There is a wide range of frame types, materials, styles and price points in every optical practice. This unit looks at key aspects of spectacle frames, such as the features, benefits, and limitations of different frame materials, how frames can be manufactured and coloured, the correct terminology for frames, understanding frame measurements, with the final section reviewing how to help customers select eyewear based on their facial features, face shape, colouring etc. A very useful unit for anyone who is involved in frame selection or adjusting frames.

Your learning goals:

• Understand the materials used to produce  spectacle frames
• Understand the methods used to manufacture spectacle frames
• Understand spectacle frame components
• Understand how to help customers choose eyewear

Gain an understanding of the wide range of lens options available by studying this unit. The first section looks at how lenses work, their form and the benefits of aspheric lenses. There is then an in-depth section on the correction of presbyopia, which covers the features, benefits and limitations of bifocal, trifocal, progressive and occupational lenses. The unit then considers the properties of different lens materials, with the final section being dedicated to the important lens measurements that are required to place a spectacle order. A real must for any optical assistant or dispenser involved in spectacle dispensing.

Your learning goals:

• Understand the principles of spectacle lenses
• Understand multifocal lenses
• Understand spectacle lens manufacture
• Understand the measurements necessary for dispensing spectacle lenses

Boost confidence with contact lenses by studying this unit. The sections of this unit cover the different types of contact lenses, the materials used to manufacture contact lenses, different wearing modalities, and replacement frequencies, and finally, the proper care of contact lenses and a description of contact lens aftercare. The knowledge covered in this unit can be further developed by studying the follow-on Level 3 contact lens unit.

Your learning goals:

• Understand the design of contact lenses
• Understand contact lens materials
• Understand the frequency of contact lens replacements
• Understand how patients should look after their contact lenses

A very useful unit for any optical assistant carrying out screening in optical practice, or in a hospital setting. The unit looks at the main screening tests carried out, such as tonometry, visual field testing, auto-refraction, fundus photography, and OCT. The principles behind the test and tips on how to obtain the best results are covered for each test. The knowledge covered in this unit can be further developed by studying the follow-on Level 3 optical screening unit.

Your learning goals:

• Understand the measuring of intraocular pressure in optical practice
• Understand the measuring of the visual field in optical practice
• Understand the use of auto-refraction in optical practice
• Understand the imaging of the fundus in optical practice
• Understand the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in optical practice