President's Message

John Bruening

On a recent flight to Vision Expo, one of the hosts, a young man in his twenties, was so exuberant, he couldn’t contain his excitement of being on the flight. I overheard him tell the hostess, with whom he was working, that when he received the call to work, at 12:05 AM, the scheduler commented that he had never had someone be so excited to be called in to work.

During the flight, I had the opportunity to ask him why he was so excited, and what he liked so much about his job. His name is Noah, and he rattled off a list of things including that he has always loved airplanes, airports, luggage, being on planes, and even the smell of jet fuel! When I asked him the downside he simply said, "When I have to go home."

The interaction I had with this young man made me wonder about how different the optical world, or any profession, for that matter, would be if we all approached each day like Noah does. To be transparent, it should be noted that he has been in this job only 11 months.

Do you remember the excitement and probably nervousness most of us had when we first began our journeys into the profession of optics? Do you remember measuring, then measuring again, and then asking a coworker or supervisor to double check your accuracy? How about when the glasses were finished and you dotted up the lenses, held them up and measured the PD which was spot on? Or the first time you had the privilege of fitting someone’s child with their first pair of glasses, and seeing the child’s face beaming and perhaps a little tear in the eye of the parents? Newsletter

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New Perspectives with Valerie Lambert

Valerie, we would love to hear more about your journey as an optician. Could you share some details about your background, including any mentors who have influenced you?

I started working at Optical Arts in Toledo 14 years ago as the receptionist and that’s were my love for eyewear began! I worked as the receptionist while going to college to get my degree in business/marketing and after college I got my what I thought was my dream job at a marketing agency. I was working that job and still working at Optical Arts part time and as I grew in my career, I realized that my heart wasn’t in it as much as it was at Optical Arts. I quit my job and started working full time at Optical Arts and will never look back! I love being able to help style the customers, help explain what is happening with their new prescriptions and so much more. Mary Nyitray has been a huge influence in my life for the past 14 years and I see her passion in what she does, and I hope that others see that passion in me too.

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Unlock the Full Value of Your Membership: CE Tracking, Professional Growth, and More

The Opticians Association of Ohio wants to remind you that your Ohio license renewal will begin October 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025.

Renewing your license will cost one hundred ninety-eight dollars and fifty cents
($198.50). Keep in mind this is for a two-year license.

For CE requirements and access to your CE history click here

If you are not a member or need to renew your membership, click here!

Changes to the Ohio Apprentice Optician Program

In 2023, the time required to serve as an optical apprentice in Ohio was reduced from two years to one thousand hours. The change has been viewed in both a favorable perspective as well as seen as a disservice to our industry.

Anxious employers and quick study apprentices have appreciated a faster track to sitting for the American Board of Opticianry exam resulting in more expediate licensure. Employers appreciate the quicker timeline for their apprentices to become eligible for licensure for the purpose of complying with the state law. Apprentices look forward to the wage increase that usually follows after being awarded the state license.

Many question if one thousand hours is an adequate amount of time to learn the trade. In that short time period, an apprentice could begin working unsupervised and possibly start training new apprentices. If the appropriate training has not been communicated to the student, they may venture into this healthcare profession with misinformation, possibly to never be corrected. Fortunately, most opticians who are dedicated to the trade know that opticianry is a field where we are continuously learning.

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The OAO: A Retro-SPEC-tive Look

Vintage Optician

While the first Society of dispensing Opticians was not proposed in Ohio until 1951, the history and influence of Ohio opticians began long before.

At a meeting of lab owners in Pittsburgh in 1929, a prominent Columbus lab owner pointed out what he referred to as a serious problem. “Who is your real competitor? Not your fellow jobber who is soliciting business on a legitimate basis! Your real competitor is the automobile industry, the radio industry, the clothing industry. Today we have a one-style market- the white gold frame. The patient buys it because the retailer says it is the latest. He wears it morning, noon and night, not for 6 months or a year, but very likely many years”. The society was sold on the concept of an organization meant to carry the eye care message to the public and on April 25th, 1929, the Better Vision Institute was born.

A one style market. I can’t imagine anything further from the truth in our current world. While our industry is constantly changing, some things remain the same. We are still here carrying our eye care message and expertise to the public and fighting hard to maintain our professional rights.