Pros
I learned a lot about optics working for one of the leaders in the eyecare industry. Most of my co-workers were very pleasant and I became friends with a lot of them. You get a free pair of glasses every year with hardly any restrictions on frame and lens options. In the lab, you get raises for completing different levels of training, and once you complete all of the training, you are making pretty good money. On retail, you get great commission.
Kontras
The main con is the hours. Full time associates barely make 30 hours a week and they are always cutting hours. The manager will tell everyone in the store that their hours will have to be cut, and then they hire a few more part time people! They hire people with no optical experience for management positions. I know businesses are all focused on sales, but I don't think that medical devices need to be high pressure sales situations. The frames and lenses are very overpriced. The lab equipment is very outdated and breaks down all the time, and they don't send technicians to fix anything.