What's in a Name?

Optician, optometrist, ophthalmologist, technicians, assistants. Obstetricians? (Um, wrong department!)
Who is and does what in an Eyecare center? In most retail optical centers (Walmart, Lenscrafters, Pearle Vision, Sam's Club, Eyemart, etc, etc, etc!) you will find optometrists, opticians, optometric technicians/assistants and sometimes a lab technician. They all have important, and sometimes changing roles.
When you schedule a routine eye exam, you will likely go to a optometrist, or as we like to call them, an OD. These two letters after their name indicate that they are optometrists, and not an ophthalmologist, who will have an MD following their name. Optometrists are concerned with the health of your eyes and your vision. With the help of an optometric assistant, the optometrist will test your acuity ( that's that 20/20 number, where you have to try and read the letters on the chart), and do a refraction ( the test where lenses of varying powers are placed in front of you and you have to answer a slew of questions about which looks better, one or two). Optometrists can also check for diseases of the eye, and can often catch other diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid problems, stroke, brain tumors, even MS. And that's just to name a few. Many diseases cause vision issues. In short, there isn't much an OD can't do when it comes to eyes.
Surgery, however, is one of the things you would need to see an ophthalmologist for, and management of medical eye problems like glaucoma, genetic defects or cataracts that are ready to be removed. Ophthalmologists can also give a very thorough eye exam, but generally they don't do the refraction (the "which looks better test"), but have an assistant or technician do that test. Why is that important? Because your prescription is the result if how you answer those questions. In my experience, I have much better success when the optometrist writes the Rx (prescription), as opposed to an ophthalmic assistant or technician. I mean no offense to anyone, I'm just speaking from my personal experience of what happens when I dispense the glasses afterword. While there are dozens of reasons you can or cannot see out of your glasses, getting an accurate refraction is an essential part of the equation.
An optician, then, is the one who helps you select your glasses and customizes the lenses so you get the clearest vision possible. I believe my job is to give my patient information with which they can make informed decisions whether or not they purchase their glasses from me. There are plenty of companies that don't see it that way, they care only to fatten their bottom line by putting harsh sales quotas on opticians, forcing them to recommend unnecessary upgrades just to meet quotas. One of the top selling eyeglass companies in the world does this, I know because I worked for them for 5 years, and when they told me that they were giving me a pay cut due to my not meeting quotas, I left. I am a helper by nature, sales is simply a part of what I do. I do not sell anything that I personally don't believe in, and I never recommend unnecessary upgrades.
Opticians can have many other duties depending on the office and state opticianry/optometric laws. I've already worked as an optometric assistant, pre-examining patients, I've done insurance billing, appointment scheduling, contact lens training classes, eyeglass inspection, and inventory management, to name a few, all under the title of optician. And in stores that make glasses while you wait, some opticians make or cut lenses as well.
The lab technician is generally the person in charge of making your lenses and inserting them into the frame. If you want to know about the how's and whys of eyeglasses, no one is more knowledgable than a lab tech. I have oodles of respect for them as they are generally overworked and underpaid, and there would be no eyeglasses without them.
I am fortunate to work in a health clinic that has optometrists, ophthalmologists, a retinal specialist ( retinal detachment, macular degeneration) and a vision therapist, who helps people with low vision learn how to adapt to their world. My little part in the optical department ( AKA the eyeglass shop) is tiny compared to the great things the doctors and their staff are doing, but to me, the world of eyeglasses is fascinating and I wouldn't want to switch jobs with them for anything!