What is an Optometrist?
An Optometrist is a health professional who specialises in eye health and vision care. During an eye examination an Optometrist will detect and measure the vision and focus for distance and near, i.e. short sightedness (myopia), long sightedness (hyperopia), etc. Corrective lenses may be prescribed to correct these visual problems.
Detection and diagnosis of eye disease is another important part of an eye examination. This involves looking at the outside and especially the inside of the eye for any abnormalities. Eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and others threaten the sight of thousands every year. These diseases can sometimes develop slowly, and there maybe no obvious signs or symptoms. Regular, comprehensive eye examinations are the key to early detection and treatment of these diseases.
An Optometrist will also refer patients with eye disease for more specialised care to an Ophthalmologist.
Ophthalmologists are medical practitioners who specialise in the treatment of eye disease and also perform eye surgery. They are also referred to as Eye Specialist or Ophthalmic Surgeons.
An Optician interprets prescriptions from an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist for spectacles or contact lenses. They help select the frame and recommend the best lenses suited to the prescription and patient's needs.