They are skilled in offering advice on lenses for specific purposes, such as night driving, UV protection or sports and safety wear. More information can be found on the College of Optometrists website.ĭispensing opticians are trained to advise on and fit glasses according to a prescription provided by an Optometrist or specialist Ophthalmologist.
Whereas an Orthoptist is concerned with how the eyes work together and interact with the brain to create vision, Optometrists are primarily focused on the examination of the eye itself.
They typically work in high street opticians, carrying out eye examinations, but some also work in hospitals or community clinics. Binocular vision defects: Binocular vision defects are an. All Optometrists are able to offer clinical advice, prescribe glasses or contact lenses and refer patients for further treatment. Treatment may include eye exercises, glasses and prisms, botulinum toxin or eye muscle surgery. They also identify the signs of problems with general health, such as diabetes of high blood pressure. Optometrists are trained to examine the eyes to detect defects in vision, signs of injury, ocular diseases or abnormality. More information can be found on the Royal College of Ophthalmologists website. While Ophthalmologists, as medical doctors, are able to perform complex surgery prescribe a wider range of medicines. Orthoptists will often work collaboratively with Ophthalmologists to investigate and manage diseases of the eyes, with Orthoptists specialising in non-surgical treatment. They typically work in eye hospitals and hospital eye departments, often alongside Orthoptists. They act both as physicians, diagnosing and prescribing treatments, and surgeons, performing operations. Ophthalmologists are medically trained doctors that specialise in diseases and injuries in and around the eye. And how is this different from the other eye care professions?