Associations
Associations of the optical industry and other relevant institutions.

• Opticians Association of Canada
  
  
• Alberta Opticians Association (AOA)
  
  

• Opticians of British Columbia (OBC)
  

• Opticians Association of New Brunswick (OANB)

• Ontario Opticians Association (OOA)

• Opticians of Manitoba (OOM)

• Nova Soctia Society of Dispensing Opticians

• National Association of Canadian Optician Regulators (NACOR)

• Canadian National Institute of the Blind (CNIB)

• Opticians Association of America (OAA)

• Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO)

• Australasian Dispensing Opticians Association (ADOA)

• Canadian Standards Association

• International Organization for Standardization

Canadian Provincial Regulatory Bodies

• Alberta Opticians Association (AOA)

• College of Opticians of British Columbia (COBC)

• College of Opticians of Ontario

• Opticians of Manitoba (OOM)

• Opticians Association of New Brunswick (OANB)

• Ordre des opticiens d'ordonnances du Quebec

• Newfoundland Board of Dispensing Opticians

• Nova Scotia Board of Dispensing Opticians

• Prince Edward Island Board of Dispensing Opticians

Government
Canadian Federal government web sites as well as each provincial health department web site.

• Health Canada

• Assistive Devices Industry Office (Federal)

• Canadian Government Information on the Internet (CGII)

• Newfoundland Department of Health and Community Services

• New Brunswick Department of Health and Community Services

• Prince Edward Island Health and Social Services

• Nova Scotia Department of Health

• Quebec Sante

• Ontario Health

• Assistive Devices Program (Ontario)

• Manitoba Health

• Saskatchewan Health

• Alberta Health

• British Columbia Ministry of Health

Educational Institutions
The following is a list of Canadian Colleges that offer opticians programs. Contact the program head for more information.

• Nothern Alberta Institute of Technology
  Distance education Program, offers courses in eyeglass dispensing, contact lens dispensing and refractive techniques.

• BC College of Optics
  BC College of Optics offers a single course of instruction covering Ophthalmic Dispensing & Contact Lens Fitting, plus the basics of optical lab. Two(2)-semester full-time program.

• Georgian College
  Two year full time Opticianry program includes eyeglasses and contact lens dispensing.

• Douglas College
  One year Program in eyeglasses dispensing, followed by an optional one year in contact lens dispensing.

• Seneca College
  Four year part time Opticianry Program includes opportunity to acquire the specialized knowledge and skills required to safely and competently dispense subnormal vision devices, contact lenses and eye glasses.

• Edouard Montpetit Applied Science
  Three year full time Program in eyeglasses and contact lenses. Language of instruction is french.

Other Career Links
Other links that could help you along the road of choosing and entering into a career in opticianry.

• Occupational Outlook Handbook 2002/03 - This is an American publication, and so all stats, figures and regulations are for the US but the entry for dispensing optician could be helpful to Canadian students considering entering into opticianry as most of the descriptive information holds true for Canada too.

• National Federation of Opticianry Schools

• National Academy of Opticianry

Employment Links
Links to the employment opportunity pages of a few sites.

• OAC Employment Page

• Capsule Dot Clip Classified Ads

• VICA (Vision Council of America)

Optical Publications
Optical publications from Canada and around the world.

• Vision Magazine - Canadian publication produced by opticians for opticians

• Real Health - Electronic magazine published by Health Canada

• Optiboard - Discussion Forum

• Opti-Guide

• Contact Lens Spectrum - North America's leading contact lens journal

• 20/20 Magazine - The optical industry's most widely read publication

• Wavelength - Australian optical dispensing newsletter

• Optometric Management - Optometric publication

• Vision Monday - offers advanced search options concerning everything from market reports to refractive surgery

• Capsule DotClip - the only Canadian optical industry newsletter produced bi-weekly

Other O's
Keep up with what is going on in the world of optometry and ophthalmology

• Canadian Ophthalmological Society

• Canadian Association of Optometrists

• British Columbia Association of Optometrists

• Canadian Medical Association

• American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)

• American Academy of Optometry (AAO)

• American Optometric Association (AOA)

• Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists (CLAO)

• Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO)

• DoctorNet

• Joint Commission in Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO)

Contact Lens

• Contact Lens Council

• Contact Lens Manufacturers Association (CLMA)

  • RGP Lens Institute Online (© 1999 Contact Lens Manufacturers Assoc.)

  • Oxygen Permeable Contact Lenses (© 1999 Contact Lens Manufacturers Assoc.)

• Contact Lens Society of America

Other Interesting Links

• Antique Spectacles and Other Vision Aids - an educational, informational, interactive website devoted to antique spectacles and other vision aids

• Blindness Resource Center

• Canadian Coucil of the Blind

• Canadian Institute for Scientific & Technical Information

• Children's Vision - offers information to parents and teachers about frequently overlooked vision problems

• Dallas Lasik Eye Surgery - World's premiere Lasik and HD-Lasik provider. Serving DFW for more than 20 years.

• Diabetic Eye Disease

• Dragon Fly Toys - toys and more designed for children with disabilities

• Emory Vision Correction Center

• General Optical Council (United Kingdom)

• Lighthouse International

• The Low Vision Gateway

• National Broadcast Reading Service

• National Eye Institute

• The National Coalition for Vision Health - The National Coalition for Vision Heath is a non-profit coalition of Canadian organizations and service providers of vision care industry, research, education, rehabilitation and consumers.

• Optical Laboratories Association (OLA)

• Polycarbonate Lens Council

• Prevent Blindness America

• Singapore Association of Visually Handicapped - an excellent links site

• The Virtual Health Care Team - Low Vision Assessment & Rehabilitation

• Vision Council of America / Better Vision Institute (VICA/BVI)

• Vision World Wide

• Visuaide - offers a line of bilingual assistive products thoughout Canada