Whats the difference between an optician and an optometrist

Learn More from your Edmonton Eye Care Professionals

Have you noticed it is harder to read the text on your phone lately? Have you been turning on additional lights to read the labels on pill bottles? Maybe your contact lenses need to be replaced, or your frames broke. Who do you look to for assistance? Maintaining your eye health is paramount to keeping your sight well into your old age. When you are looking for an eye doctor in Edmonton, do you need an optometrist or would an optician fill your need? Understanding the differences between the two helps clear any confusion.

The Differences Between an Optometrist and an Optician - Learn More from your Edmonton Eye Care Professionals While their functions are different, people often use the terms interchangeably. Each requires different levels of training and licensing. Here is some information to explain these distinctions:

• Optometrist: Think of your optometrist as the general practitioner for your vision. As your primary eye health provider, they have to complete a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree. Next, they finish a four year Doctor of Optometry degree. Finally, they have to maintain their education and licensure. Here is a generalized list of the items they will be able to help you with:
  • Examinations – They examine and measure your eyes. They can assess your vision for disorders and diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts. Learn more about different types of eye exams that we perform at our clinic.
  • Co-manage – Your eye doctor can work with other doctors and specialists to manage related conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, brain tumors, and other eye diseases.
  • Prescribe – Sometimes you need medication, and your eye doctor can write those prescriptions depending on the province you reside in.
  • Referrals – When a specialist is required, your optometrist can refer you to an ophthalmologist.
• Optician: An optician specializes in creating and fitting eye wear. Their training includes a college programme through an accredited institute. Even though they do not have the same education as an optometrist, they provide a valuable service through:
  • Creating and Fabricating – Using the prescription from your doctor, they can make your visual aids to help you see better.
  • Dispensing Optical Aids – When you need a new set of contact lenses, your optician will get you what you need.
  • Partnering with Your Eye Doctor – An optician is an integral part of your eye health team, providing additional support to correct your vision.

Consult Your Team of Optometrists and Opticians for Regular Eye Examinations in Edmonton
Picking the best eyecare professional is vital to your vision. Regular eye exams are preventative measures to keep your vision in tip-top shape. At Optometrists’ Clinic, we will work with you from examinations through fitting of your new glasses or contacts. We are glad to answer your questions and determine the different eyewear solutions available for you. 

Schedule your next eye exam with the team at Optometrists’ Clinic in Edmonton. We are happy to assist with exams, glasses, contacts, and other vision aids. Visit us at one of our convenient locations, or complete our online contact form today.

There are three types of eye care professionals who provide patient care in Canada and the US; optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians. Sometimes, people are confused about which professional they should see when they need eye care. Making the confusion worse is the fact that there is some overlap in what each one does.

Here we explain the difference between an optician, an ophthalmologist and an optometrist.

Opticians

An optician is a health professional who specializes in preparing and supplying optical appliances according to the written prescriptions of an optometrist or ophthalmologist. They also fit and finish eyeglass lenses and frames and might also dispense low vision devices, contact lenses and artificial eyes. An optician’s training includes measuring eyes and adjusting frames.

Opticians are specialists in lens and frame selection. They have specialized knowledge about lens options, types of lenses and how to measure accurately for the best performance. An optician is the person to see if you need your eyeglass frames adjusted for more comfortable wear.

Some opticians become specialists in fitting and dispensing low vision devices and/or specialty eyewear such as safety glasses, scuba goggles and other sports eyewear. Many are experts in frame repair and welding.

Optometrists

Optometry is a specialty that is concerned with the health of the eyes, the visual system and its related structures. Optometrists have the initials "O.D." (Doctor of Optometry) after their names.

A Doctor of Optometry is an independent, primary health care provider who specializes in the examination, diagnosis, treatment, management and prevention of the diseases and disorders of the eye and associated structures. They can also diagnosis other systemic conditions that can often affect the eyes.

Optometrists prescribe corrective eyewear such as eyeglasses, contact lenses and low vision aids. They also diagnose refractive errors, test for binocular vision disorders like strabismus and amblyopia and provide vision therapy and other types of treatment. In addition, optometrists can help to manage the ocular effect of other diseases, such as diabetes.

Ophthalmologists

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine that specializes in the anatomy, function, and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a medical or osteopathic physician who specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and the prevention of eye disease. These professionals have the initials "M.D." (Doctor of Medicine) or "D.O." (Doctor of Osteopathy) after their names.

Ophthalmologists specialize in eye diseases and complex and delicate eye surgery. They are trained to provide full-spectrum eye care, from routine eye exams to prescribing glasses and contact lenses, the same way an optometrist does.

Ophthalmologists treat eye diseases, prescribe medications, and perform all types of surgery to improve, or prevent the worsening of eye and vision-related conditions. They use medication and surgery to treat various eye conditions and diseases such as removing cataracts. They can also perform elective refractive procedures, such as LASIK.

Some ophthalmologists become specialists in specific areas of the eye, such as the cornea or the retina.

Crossover Care

Optometrists specialize in how the eyes function, look at how they work together as a team and work on improving comfort and ease of vision for their patients. An Ophthalmologist may be thought of as a medical specialist for the treatment of eye disease and performing eye surgery.

You can get a prescription for eyeglasses from either of these medical professionals, however, optometrists do more testing such as eye teaming, aiming and tracking and often prescribe lenses meant to relieve stress and make vision more efficient and stable.

Ophthalmologists usually determine if there’s a refractive error but don’t investigate further to see how the lenses may influence visual functioning. These are the medical professionals to see if you need to have cataracts removed.

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