Optician, Optometrist & Ophthalmologist

Who’s Who and What's the Difference?


Most people do not know the difference between the different eye care professionals.  When you visit the opticians, whom do you see?  What are their qualifications? Who carries out laser eye surgery? Who’s in charge of quality control and regulates eye care professionals?  Do all eye care professionals have a medical degree? These are just some of the questions answered below.

Ophthalmologist

Ophthalmologists are a doctor’s of medicine.  They have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of how the whole body works as well as specific knowledge of the function and treatment of the eye.  This enables them to understand and treat conditions, which affect the eyes such as diabetes.  An Ophthalmologist will learn how to diagnose and treat diseased eyes using medication, lasers and other eye treatments, as they understand how to manage the visual system. 

Ophthalmologists have the right skills, knowledge and training to deliver all eye care, including primary, secondary and tertiary.  They will examine eyes and determine the quality of vision and the need for glasses or contact lenses.  They will also check for the presence of eye disorders and diseases, such as glaucoma or cataract.  They can then prescribe glasses and contact lenses and treat eye diseases and conditions.  They may prescribe medication and perform surgery such as laser eye surgery, cataract removal and treat eye cancers.

All Ophthalmologists have to be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and most are members of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists whom set out the training and standards.  Only Ophthalmologists have the right training to carry out laser eye surgery.  They may work on the NHS or privately at laser eye clinics and in private hospitals.  Sometimes they also work privately in a NHS setting.  The GMC regulates Ophthalmologists and have details of who is registered.  If they have the relevant training they may be on the list of specialists.  The GMC website enables the public to see if an Ophthalmologist is on the register or specialist register.  The usual route in becoming an Ophthalmologist is by becoming a doctor and medically qualified through medical school and then completing several years of professional training, focusing on the eye. 

Optometrist

Optometrists have the right training to examine eyes and diagnose vision problems, eye diseases and other conditions.  They have in-depth knowledge of disorders of the visual system, the eye and its associated structures.  They can also diagnose related systemic conditions.  They can then prescribe glasses/contact lenses and adjust glasses or lenses as required.  Optometrists can prescribe some medications if they have the relevant qualifications, but cannot perform surgery such as laser eye surgery.  They will refer patients to an ophthalmologist for surgery.

Optometrists used to be called ophthalmic opticians.  When you visit the opticians, an optometrist will examine your eyes.  This appointment will include asking you about your general health and eyesight history in the family.  They will then use equipment to test your eyes.  This includes checking eye movements and co-ordination, they will see how you judge depth and see colours accurately.  They will examine the eye internally and externally to diagnose eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts and of course vision conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. 

In the UK there are about 12,000 registered optometrists.  They work in private practice (at an ‘Opticians’) or hospitals.  They will have completed a 4-year degree approved by the General Optical Council (GOC).  Entry requirements are at least three A levels and sometimes qualified dispensing opticians are accepted for optometry degree courses.  To check if your optometrist is registered with the GOC, visit their website.  It is compulsory for all Optometrists to be members of the GOC.  They may also voluntarily, be members of the College of Optometrists who set out to improve and conserve vision, help in the study and research into optometry and publication of research results, help in the public benefit of the practice of optometry and help maintain standards of professional competence and conduct in the field.   Many optometrists are members of the Association of Optometrists for their own benefit.

Optician/Dispensing Optician

In the UK the term ‘Optician’ is used to cover optometrists and dispensing opticians.  These are not the same.  Dispensing opticians do not carry out eye tests or look for signs of eye disease and cannot prescribe glasses and contact lenses.  Dispensing opticians primarily fit glasses and contact lenses.  They can give you advice on types of lens, such as single-vision or bifocal lenses.  They can also run through the different styles of frames and help you choose.  A dispensing optician may give you your prescription on paper. 

To qualify as a Dispensing Optician, one has to have a minimum of three years academic training. It is illegal to call yourself a dispensing optician or work as one, unless qualified and GOC registered. 

Dispensing opticians can voluntarily become members of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians.

Other eye care professionals include Orthoptists and Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners (OMP).  The latter, are medical doctors, which specialise in eye care.  Orthoptists, examine eyes and prescribe lenses 

Prescribing Medication & Drugs

Optometrists have access to a wide range of eye drugs for diagnosing and treating eye diseases and can supply eye medicines to their patients.  Alternatively they can give prescriptions to patients for them to collect at a chemist.  Optometrists can prescribe:

  • Anti-bacterial eye drops for treating conjunctivitis (‘red eye’).
  • Certain anti-allergy drugs
  • Certain Ocular lubricants

Further training can enable optometrists to prescribe additional drugs and they can then manage a wider range of eye conditions.

Your GP (General Practitioner) or eye specialist (ophthalmologist) may devise an individual management plan for your eye care.  From this, your optometrist will issue repeat prescriptions for eye drugs or treatments and may adjust the dose, but will be supervised by your GP or specialist.  

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