The Role of Optometrist

Very often, we were asked, what is the difference between a optometrist and a optician.

Basically a optometrist is a primary eyecare practitioner. He is trained to conduct eye examination and screening. He not only conduct eye check to determine and prescibe visual aids for any refractive error or optical correction required. The optometrist also screen and determine the patient eye health. Should any condition detected, the optometrist would referred the patient to the ophthalmologist (eye specialist) for consultation and management.

An optician is an eye care professional who provides corrective lenses based on a prescription for the correction of a refractive error. Such prescriptions are supplied by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

In UK, the optometrist would be referred as an ophthalmic optician and the optician as a dispensing optician.