Optometry

What does a career as an optician entail?

Vision is one of our most important senses. As an optician you use your knowledge and expertise to analyse your customers' or clients' visual perception in order to provide them with the best visual function possible for their everyday life.

The first step is to analyse the client's vision requirements. Using precise testing, complex measurement tools and new technologies, you determine your clients' visual performance and the central parameters of their eyes. This includes for example visual acuity (e.g. myopia, hyperopia, and presbyopia), the size of the visual field and the ability to differentiate colours.

Once you have determined any deficits in the visual performance it is up to you to measure the eyes and customise the optical visual aids such as glasses or contact lenses. If any abnormalities are noticed during the diagnosis, the client is recommend for a check-up with a partnering ophthalmologist.

Career prospects for opticians are diverse and promising. In addition to starting a career with optical companies and contact lens institutes, other potential fields of activity include working in the optical industry, ophthalmic practices or in eye clinics, as well as in the fields of research and professional training. Valuable contacts with potential employers are often extablished already during the practical training.

What can you expect from the study programme?

This practically oriented and scientifically substantiated study programme provides you with the necessary skills and qualifications for your professional practice while also fulfilling any requirements for starting your own business in the field of ophthalmic optics and contact lens optics.

The programme starts with the basic anatomy and physiology of the human body while focussing on the eye. Basic scientific subjects such as physics, biology and mathematics will help you to gain the necessary basic knowledge and understanding of the various fields of ophthalmic optics and contact lens optics. The main topics "Glasses” and "Contact Lenses” will teach you all the theoretical principles and the technical skills needed to create and customise any visual aids or magnifying visual aids for visually impaired clients.

With regard to founding your own company after your studies, the modules "Career Studies and Legal Basis”, "Company and HR Management for Ophthalmic and Contact Lens Opticians” and "Communication and Marketing” will prepare you for the business side of your future as a professional. Having successfully completed the University of Applied Sciences Bachelor Degree Programme Ophthalmic Optic you will be awarded with a business licence to set up your own business and practice your profession as a self-employed optician. Certain lectures are also held in cooperation with other professional groups so as to raise awareness for your own and their professional skills and to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration.

What can you expect from the practical training?

Several selected courses will offer you the opportunity to put your theoretical knowledge into practice already within the first four semesters. During the fifth and sixth semesters you will take part in a practical training, equal to 28 ECTS, in an optical company or a contact lens institute in order to practice and improve your theoretical and technical skills. 

Duration and extent of the practical training:

• 5th semester / 8,5 ECTS / 212,5 hours
  
• 6th semester / 20 ECTS / 500 hours
  

Take the opportunity to do your practical training abroad with the Erasmus+ Programme.