Vision Care Technology - AAS (2122)

Division: Nursing and Health Sciences Division

Vision Care Technology program (2122) is accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation (COA), https://coaccreditation.com

General Education Requirements (22 Credits)
Written & Oral Communication (6)
ENG 101College Composition I3
ENG 102College Composition II3
or ENG 105 Technical Writing
Quantitative/Scientific Knowledge, Skills & Reasoning (4)
Select one of the following:4
MTH 100, MTH 101, MTH 103, MTH 113, MTH 119, MTH 120, MTH 122, MTH 127
Society & Human Behavior (6)
Select two of the following:6
ANT 101, ANT 105, ECO 101, ECO 102, POL 104, PSY 101, PSY 102, PSY 219, SOC 101, SOC 108, SOC 219
Technological Competency (3)
CIS 107Computer Literacy3
or CIS 131 Micro Computers in Business
Historical Perspective (3)
Select any History (HST) course3
Major Requirements (42 Credits)
BIO 125Anatomy and Phys of The Eye3
OPH 123Ophthalmic Laboratory I4
OPH 124Ophthalmic Laboratory II4
OPH 126Ophthalmic Materials I3
OPH 127Ophthalmic Materials II3
OPH 201Ophthalmic Dispensing I5
OPH 202Ophthalmic Dispensing II5
OPH 203Contact Lenses I3
OPH 204Contact Lenses II3
OPH 210Principles of Refraction I3
OPH 273Supervised Clin Instruction3
PHY 111Theory of Optics3
Additional Course Requirements (7 Credits)
ACC 101Prin of Accounting I Financial4
BUS 101Business Organization & Mgmt3
Total Credits71

Notes:

  1. For an explanation of why General Education courses are included in this Program, please refer to the Section on General Education for an explanation of its Purpose and Requirements. 
  2. This plan assumes the student is eligible to enroll in College Level Courses (designated as 100 +, e.g., ENG 101 College Composition I, HST 101 World Civilization I, MTH 100 Intro. to College Mathematics).  Placement results will determine College Level Readiness in English and Mathematics.  

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

  • Develop lensometry skills necessary for laying out lenses for edging, inspecting jobs according to standards, and neutralizing a pair of glasses;
  • Discuss prescription eyewear both verbally and written with patient / customer and eyecare professionals;
  • Analyzing and interpreting prescriptions;
  • Identify human eye structure including its function and pathology;
  • Assist patient / customer in selection of proper frames and lenses;
  • Determine patient / customer physiognomic measurements (facial and eye);
  • Reading / neutralizing prescriptions of existing eyeglasses both single vision and multifocal;
  • Verifying eyeglasses to the prescription as to being either dispensable or not dispensable according to New Jersey standards;
  • Adapt and fit prescription eyeglasses to patient / customer;
  • Demonstrate proficiency in eyeglass lens edging equipment and applying rules and regulations for safety;
  • Ability to interpret contact lens prescriptions and the differences from spectacles prescriptions and how they relate to the anatomy of the eye;
  • Understanding of how eyeglass prescriptions relate to the anatomy and physiology of the patient / customer’s eye(s);
  • Understanding frame and lens materials / designs and how they relate to patient / customer’s needs considering the pros and cons of their decisions;
  • Understanding theory of light and optics as it relates to lens designs and materials and focusing power;
  • Understanding the standards and regulations both nationally and New Jersey and how they need to be applied;
  • Learning the role / responsibility / professional ethics of an Optician; and
  • Discuss the use of the phoropter to determine prescriptions subjectively.