[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12353]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL OPTICIANS MONTH

 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, January 1999 will be celebrated 
throughout the United States as National Opticians Month. I am pleased 
to inform my colleagues that one of my constituents, Gary R. Aiken of 
Minnetonka, Minnesota, is president of the Opticians Association of 
America, which is sponsoring the observance.
  Nearly all Americans aged 65 or older require some help to see their 
best and sixty percent of Americans wear eyeglasses or contact lenses. 
Opticians, skilled in fitting and dispensing eyeglasses and contact 
lenses, provide the expert assistance we need to make the most of our 
vision. Technology has brought us literally thousands of possible 
combinations of eyeglass frames and lenses and an array of contact 
lenses. Dispensing opticians play a pivotal role in guiding eyewear 
customers to the combination which exactly fits their need.
  Through formal education programs, voluntary national certification 
and mandatory licensing in many states, and programs of continuing 
education, dispensing opticians acquire the skills and competence to 
correctly, efficiently and effectively fill eyewear prescriptions. At 
the same time, retail opticians are an important part of our nation's 
small business community and provide the competitive balance which 
keeps eyewear affordable for all Americans.
  It is a pleasure to acknowledge the important role of dispensing 
opticians as they assist us all in making the most of our precious 
eyesight. I commend them for their efforts and congratulate Gary Aiken 
and the members of the Opticians Association of America for their 
accomplishments.

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