For living a problem-free and healthy life, knowing about our eye health is important. For this, you may wonder whom to consult an optometrist or an optician. As though both of these eye physicians are important in delivering eye care, but their roles differ, and it is essential to be aware of the difference. So, today, we will discuss the differences between an optometrist and an optician in an elaborate way.
Who is an optician?
An optician is an expert who specializes in both making and fixing the special devices that are meant for improving the eye's vision. These experts mainly deal with various eyeglasses and contact lenses. They first read and then prepare our eyeglasses according to the prescriptions given by the ophthalmologists and optometrists. They can easily make and adjust the glasses, frames, lenses, etc., and also can replace the glasses if required.
Opticians are trained in taking the facial measurements of a person to make a better fitting device. Opticians can not treat any kind of disease related to the eyes but they are experts in determining the eye power of lenses required for eye vision issues.
Roles of an optician include:
- Recommending the right eyewear.
- Informing the customers on how to take care of their optical device
- Properly maintaining and stocking the inventory
- Making orders of work for the ophthalmic laboratory technicians
- Keeping a record of various financial transactions and supervising other administrative duties.
What is an optometrist?
An optometrist is a physician or doctor who is an expert in both diagnosing and treating eye diseases and disorders, like, glycoma, various types of eye inflammations, and infections. can also prescribe their patients the required eyeglasses and contact lenses for their better eye health.
They are doctors, but in a limited sense as they are unable to prescribe medicines and perform eye surgeries like an ophthalmologist. However, in some specific states, they can easily prescribe medications.
Responsibilities of an optometrist are:
- Counseling patients to discuss about maintaining good eye health
- Writing prescriptions for the right eyeglasses and contacts
- Providing both pre-and-post operative care for the patients who have gone through an eye surgery
- Performing some minor surgical treatments of eyes
- Providing proper treatments, like, low-vision rehabilitation
- Referring the patients to other expert professionals if they suspect an illness contributing to problematic or impaired vision.
What are the differences between an optometrist and an optician?
As discussed earlier, though both optometrists and opticians are responsible for our better eye health, both of them can perform different types of duties. Some of those differences in job responsibilities are mentioned below for your better understanding:
- Optometrists are licensed to examine, diagnose, and also prescribe various eye health-related medications for various types of eye diseases and disorders. They can treat the problems like glaucoma, various types of eye inflammations, and also vision-related problems.
- Graduate with the degree of Doctors of Optometry they can test and examine eye problems. They can prescribe medicines and lenses to their patients.
- On the other hand, Opticians can read the prescriptions written by the optometrists and then prepare the eyeglasses and contact lenses accordingly.
- The opticians are the professionals, who are adept in both making and fixing various eye devices such as contact lenses and eyeglasses.
- Opticians are selected and hired by the shops that sell eyeglasses and contact lenses.