Ready to take the next step in your optical career? The senior optical assistant course could be for you
Aidan Quinn is a student dispensing optician at Lee Opticians. Aiden started on the ABDO College optical assistant (OA) course and moved on the senior optical assistant (SOA) course before starting the ophthalmic dispensing (DO) course.
Can you tell us a little about your current role and your journey in optics so far?
My journey in optics seems to be a little like everyone’s is, unexpected. I started within Lee Opticians to do social media and marketing, however due to staff illness I quickly was moved into the lab and helping with some dispenses and collections. After six months, the opportunity to complete the short OA course within ABDO College came up. This was a huge help in building the basic foundations of my knowledge, particularly with lens materials and frame shapes.
What motivated you to enrol on the senior optical assistant course, and what were you hoping to achieve?
Once I completed the shorter OA course, I realized that optics has a massive scope and has potential to be a great career. With the recent technology advancements it really drew me in and I wanted to learn more. I quickly decided my end goal was to become a dispensing optician, however leaving school ten years ago I wasn’t sure if I wanted to commit three years of learning and then taking exams too. The senior OA course gave me the chance to deepen my knowledge, but also give me an idea of the learning and exams involved if I was to go on and do the DO course.
What was the most valuable knowledge, skill, or experience you gained from the course?
Weirdly, the most valuable thing I would say I took away from the course was meeting fellow students at the practical exams. At this point I was in optics for two years and even though I was feeling confident in my ability, it was great to meet others in similar positions. The SOA course really bolstered my confidence and again just solidified the foundations for me. It showed me that the commitment of the three years wasn’t as daunting, as the last year flew by, and any query I had the ABDO College staff were always just an email away.
How did the SOA course impact your confidence and effectiveness within your role in practice?
My confidence skyrocketed. Knowing that you’ve passed the exams it gives you tangible evidence that you do know what you’re doing, even in some scenarios that you might not have faced before. I had never rethreaded a semi rimless frame before the practical day, then two weeks later a patient came in as his cord snapped two hours before leaving for the airport for holidays. I was able to do it in practice then instead of having to send that frame away, and leaving him stuck without them.
How did completing the SOA course help prepare you for progression onto the ophthalmic dispensing course with ABDO College?
Optics is a lot of numbers, and from experience of friends and colleagues that is what seems to push people away from wanting to progress. That ‘fear’ of math is broken down in the SOA course by slowly and gradually introducing equations at a manageable rate. I hated maths in school, and home, but during the course I was becoming more familiar and comfortable around the equations. Stuff like transpositions will really come second nature before you know it, and it’ll be explained to you in a way you don’t even realize it is maths! I got back into the routine of regular study and completing assignments, and really moving into the DO hasn’t been as daunting as I thought it might. The college staff and tutors are brilliant and seem to genuinely enjoy teaching and helping bring you on.
What would you say to an optical assistant who is considering enrolling on the SOA course?
Do it, it really is simple as that. Even if you aren’t wanting to go on and do the DO course it is a brilliant course for helping to solidify your own knowledge and will massively build your confidence. If you are wanting to do the DO course too it’ll give you a snapshot of what to expect and an introduction to the staff and set up of the college. For me personally throughout both courses it has just made me want to learn more, and I’ve come to realize that in optics you really never will know everything or experience everything. These courses will help you meet others in similar positions to yourself, and that in itself has been invaluable to me. I’ve been lucky enough to now speak regularly to others across Ireland who I have met though the courses. You quickly learn that what you struggle with others will understand and help you with, and what you are good at you will help others understand.
Find out more about the senior optical assistant course here.