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Raising awareness with students about careers in vision science is a great idea in my book. 
PINELLAS PARK, Fla., September 15, 2026—Transitions Optical, together with its Optical Advancement Board (OAB) and curriculum specialists Young Minds Inspired (YMI), has launched Eyes on STEAM in the Real World—a free classroom-ready teaching kit designed for students in middle school and available at ymiclassroom.com/lesson-plans/transitions/. The program features engaging, education standards-aligned activities that explore how the eye and corrective lenses work while introducing students to careers in opticianry.
Launching on the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month, the program also underscores the importance of multicultural representation in STEAM and eye care careers, helping students see a range of backgrounds and experiences reflected in the field.
The professionals who helped bring these real-world perspectives to the curriculum include members of the Transitions® Optical Advancement Board—a diverse group of practicing optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians—along with practicing opticians and entrepreneurs who are part of the Transitions® Change Agents program. Together, these experts helped shape content that reflects applications of STEAM and the skills required for a career in eye care.
“The objectives of Eyes on STEAM in the Real World are to raise awareness of opticianry as a career path, inspire students to explore and study STEAM subjects and equip educators with resources that support health, career and STEAM lessons and skills,” said Arlene Barringer, trade marketing director, Transitions Optical. “By sharing the experiences of eye care professionals with different backgrounds and career journeys, we hope students can see the many possibilities available to them in the field.”
The three core curriculum activities include:
• Eye on Science—Students explore the anatomy and function of the human eye. Through an educational video, they learn how light travels through the eye and how the brain interprets visual information, followed by an activity to identify and label key eye structures.
• Eyeing the Math—Students apply math skills to real-world opticianry scenarios, solving word problems related to patient vision. The activity introduces tools such as the Snellen Chart and a lensometer, highlighting how opticians use math every day in their work.
• Eyeing the Role of an Optician—This activity provides an overview of an optician’s responsibilities, education and training requirements and workplace settings. Students can also explore career resources, including those from the United Opticians Association, and watch five short videos featuring opticians affiliated with Transitions Optical who share their personal career journeys.
The featured opticians include:
Lanard Atkins, Optician, Owner and Designer, Timeless EYEdentity
Rachel Hill, Optician and Owner, Personal Optical
Michael Nicolas, Owner and Designer, Kazoku Lunettes
Liliana Mejia Rodriguez, Optician and Educator, Miami Dade College
Tyjia Sherman, Optician and Community Activist, Vision To Learn
Following the videos, students complete a reflection handout that reinforces key takeaways from the opticians’ stories and highlights the diverse career paths within the profession.
The curriculum also includes a bonus eyewear design activity, created exclusively by Transitions Optical, which challenges students to design a pair of glasses using colored pencils, crayons or markers that are both stylish and functional—just like a professional optician would recommend. The activity introduces common face shapes, frame styles and encourages creativity through mix-and-match designs or original concepts. With support from a teacher or guardian, students can also try on eyewear virtually using Transitions® lenses at Transitions.com/VTO.
Each activity sheet also features a quote from a member of the Transitions® Optical Advancement Board or a Transitions® Change Agent, reinforcing real-world connections and professional insights throughout the learning experience.
About the Transitions® Brand
Transitions®, part of Essilor Luxottica group, has been pioneering light modulation for more than 30 years. With over 1,400 patents and patent applications, today it is the leading brand of the dynamic lenses category recommended by eyecare professionals worldwide and worn by more than 60 million people. Transitions® features a full portfolio of light-responsive lenses that seamlessly adapt to changing light situations, from clear indoor to dark outdoors.
PINELLAS PARK, Fla., September 15, 2026—Transitions Optical, together with its Optical Advancement Board (OAB) and curriculum specialists Young Minds Inspired (YMI), has launched Eyes on STEAM in the Real World—a free classroom-ready teaching kit designed for students in middle school and available at ymiclassroom.com/lesson-plans/transitions/. The program features engaging, education standards-aligned activities that explore how the eye and corrective lenses work while introducing students to careers in opticianry.
Launching on the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month, the program also underscores the importance of multicultural representation in STEAM and eye care careers, helping students see a range of backgrounds and experiences reflected in the field.
The professionals who helped bring these real-world perspectives to the curriculum include members of the Transitions® Optical Advancement Board—a diverse group of practicing optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians—along with practicing opticians and entrepreneurs who are part of the Transitions® Change Agents program. Together, these experts helped shape content that reflects applications of STEAM and the skills required for a career in eye care.
“The objectives of Eyes on STEAM in the Real World are to raise awareness of opticianry as a career path, inspire students to explore and study STEAM subjects and equip educators with resources that support health, career and STEAM lessons and skills,” said Arlene Barringer, trade marketing director, Transitions Optical. “By sharing the experiences of eye care professionals with different backgrounds and career journeys, we hope students can see the many possibilities available to them in the field.”
The three core curriculum activities include:
• Eye on Science—Students explore the anatomy and function of the human eye. Through an educational video, they learn how light travels through the eye and how the brain interprets visual information, followed by an activity to identify and label key eye structures.
• Eyeing the Math—Students apply math skills to real-world opticianry scenarios, solving word problems related to patient vision. The activity introduces tools such as the Snellen Chart and a lensometer, highlighting how opticians use math every day in their work.
• Eyeing the Role of an Optician—This activity provides an overview of an optician’s responsibilities, education and training requirements and workplace settings. Students can also explore career resources, including those from the United Opticians Association, and watch five short videos featuring opticians affiliated with Transitions Optical who share their personal career journeys.
The featured opticians include:
Lanard Atkins, Optician, Owner and Designer, Timeless EYEdentity
Rachel Hill, Optician and Owner, Personal Optical
Michael Nicolas, Owner and Designer, Kazoku Lunettes
Liliana Mejia Rodriguez, Optician and Educator, Miami Dade College
Tyjia Sherman, Optician and Community Activist, Vision To Learn
Following the videos, students complete a reflection handout that reinforces key takeaways from the opticians’ stories and highlights the diverse career paths within the profession.
The curriculum also includes a bonus eyewear design activity, created exclusively by Transitions Optical, which challenges students to design a pair of glasses using colored pencils, crayons or markers that are both stylish and functional—just like a professional optician would recommend. The activity introduces common face shapes, frame styles and encourages creativity through mix-and-match designs or original concepts. With support from a teacher or guardian, students can also try on eyewear virtually using Transitions® lenses at Transitions.com/VTO.
Each activity sheet also features a quote from a member of the Transitions® Optical Advancement Board or a Transitions® Change Agent, reinforcing real-world connections and professional insights throughout the learning experience.
About the Transitions® Brand
Transitions®, part of Essilor Luxottica group, has been pioneering light modulation for more than 30 years. With over 1,400 patents and patent applications, today it is the leading brand of the dynamic lenses category recommended by eyecare professionals worldwide and worn by more than 60 million people. Transitions® features a full portfolio of light-responsive lenses that seamlessly adapt to changing light situations, from clear indoor to dark outdoors.
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