As smartphones, tablets, and computers have become indispensable parts of daily life, risks to eye health are also increasing. Head of Opticianry Program, Instructor Ömer Faruk Okuyucu, noted the widespread increase in digital eye strain and drew attention to the critical role opticians play in protecting eye health.
Emphasizing that opticianry is not just about selling glasses but a highly technical job based entirely on physics, mathematics, and optical sciences, Okuyucu added that artificial intelligence entities cannot compete with professional opticians who manage and integrate high technology with the patient.
Head of Opticianry Program at Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services, Instructor Ömer Faruk Okuyucu, made evaluations on the occasion of June 1 Opticians and Dispensing Opticians Day.
Frame selection suitable for anatomical structure is important!
Instructor Ömer Faruk Okuyucu stated that eye health is a delicate process from diagnosis to application, saying, “Our ophthalmologists perform the examination and write the prescription as the first link in this process. Opticians are the specialists who complete the process, combining medical knowledge with technical skill. Opticianry is not just about selling glasses; it is a highly technical job based entirely on physics, mathematics, and optical sciences. The millimeter-accurate processing of prescription values onto lenses, the correct measurement of the distance between a person's pupils, and the selection of the most suitable frame for their anatomical structure are vitally important. Even the slightest millimeter focusing error can lead to severe headaches, dizziness, and increased eye fatigue over time. Therefore, opticians undertake a responsibility that is no laughing matter in protecting eye health, and they are representatives of a profession that should only be performed by competent individuals who have received serious academic training.”
Digital eye strain has become a societal problem
Emphasizing that the need for opticians has also increased with the rise in screen usage in recent years, Instructor Ömer Faruk Okuyucu said, “Until 15-20 years ago, glasses usage was mostly associated with old age or genetic factors. From the moment we wake up in the morning until we go to sleep at night, smartphones, tablets, computers, and televisions are at the center of our lives... The exponential increase in time spent in front of screens has turned what we call digital eye strain into almost a societal epidemic.”
Instructor Ömer Faruk Okuyucu stated that myopia (nearsightedness) rates have reached very serious levels, especially in children and young people, and said, “This situation has raised society's need for conscious and professional eye health services more than ever. Now, opticians are not only sought for correcting vision defects but also for protective measures such as blue light filters (Bluecut) and UV-protected lenses.”
Opticianry education gained momentum at university level
Instructor Ömer Faruk Okuyucu, explaining that opticianry education in Türkiye has gained significant momentum at university level in recent years, continued as follows: “It is now much better understood how important and disciplined an academic process this profession requires. Looking at the employment dimension, the aging population and the increase in eye disorders due to digitalization, as we just mentioned, always keep the sector vibrant. Our graduates not only open their own optical establishments; they can also find jobs in a wide range of positions such as responsible managers in existing optical stores, technical experts in the distributorships of international companies producing lenses and glasses, or appointment-based positions in the relevant units of hospitals. The unity and solidarity among professionals in the sector raise professional standards while positively affecting the adaptation and employment of new graduates in the sector.”
Technology is not destroying our profession
Okuyucu stated that technological developments are transforming the opticianry profession, saying, “Technology is not destroying our profession; on the contrary, it is moving us to a point where we provide more accurate and higher quality services. Measurements made with traditional methods have now been replaced by digital focusing and three-dimensional face scanning systems. Many national and international companies are producing and developing technologies in this context. Thanks to this, we can determine a patient's eye focus within the frame with zero error. And not making this error is very, very important for eye health.”
Artificial intelligence cannot compete with a good optical professional!
Instructor Ömer Faruk Okuyucu, stating that with the advent of artificial intelligence, they can analyze the most suitable lens design and filter combination for a person's lifestyle in seconds thanks to AI-powered algorithms, said, “Smart glasses and augmented reality technologies are transforming glasses from mere vision aids into wearable technology. Opticians will, over time, become not just healthcare technicians but also technology consultants who manage and integrate this high technology with the patient. However, it should not be forgotten that in terms of human sensitivity and holistic approach, artificial intelligence entities cannot compete with a good optical professional.”
Opticianry is a dynamic and never-aging field
Okuyucu stated that opticianry is a strong option for young people planning a career in healthcare, saying, “For students who want to work in the health sector but prefer not to be directly in a hospital environment, opticianry is a perfect fit. You experience the moral satisfaction of directly touching human health and instantly improving someone's quality of life, and you can also incorporate aesthetics, fashion, and high technology into the job. We are talking about a dynamic, never-aging, and never-ending field of work as long as humans exist. For those who want to be their own boss or desire an active professional life, we have a very clean, decent, and enjoyable sector. Opticianry education is a very serious and important process. They should combine the theoretical knowledge they gain at school with practical experience in our very well-equipped and large optical mechanics laboratories at our school. They should closely follow technology, innovations in lens designs, and even global eyewear fashion. They should develop their communication skills; because an optician's greatest strength is listening to the patient correctly and accurately determining their needs.”
