Understanding types of eye care professionals

If you've ever wondered what the difference is between an ophthalmologist, an optometrist and an optician, read on. 

• An optometrist provides primary eye-care services, performing comprehensive eye exams and also dealing with overall eye health. He or she can examine and test for all eye problems, sight defects and health conditions linked with the eye.
• Optometrists advise on visual correction, prescribe glasses and contact lenses, give healthcare advice, assess and monitor vision defects and eye disorders, and can refer you to other healthcare providers such as your doctor or an ophthalmologist if necessary.

• An optician can fill a prescription for glasses given by an optometrist, taking the measurements necessary to ensure that glasses fit properly and advising on the style and shape of frames, as well as on types of lenses and coatings.
• With special training, an optician can also fit contact lenses.

• An ophthalmologist is a physician and surgeon who has received special training in eye diseases.
• There is no need to be anxious if you are referred to an ophthalmologist — it does not necessarily mean that you will require an operation.

•  An orthoptist is a specialist in the treatment of problems of eye alignment, eye muscle disorders and binocular vision.
• Orthoptists usually work in close collaboration with ophthalmologists, and the majority of their patients are children since childhood is when these conditions tend to appear. They assess conditions such as double vision before and after treatment.

• Of course, your doctor can always advise you on eye symptoms and injuries and refer you to a specialist if more help is necessary.