Learn What Differentiates Optometrists From Opticians, Orthoptists, And Ophthalmologists

Eye care professionals are practitioners who provide vision or eye related services. Learn the extent of their professionalism through what they can and cannot do.

OPTOMETRIST
Optometrists are the primary caregivers in professional eye-care. They are the first specialist most people seek for advice on eye-related issues. These issues are mostly vision related but can include eye diseases such as glaucoma. 
 

OPTICIAN
Opticians are usually the second eye-care professional that patients seek after visiting an optometrist or even an ophthalmologist. They are skilled in fulfilling prescriptions for glasses and lenses. Their main job function is to help patients find a proper fit within considerations for the patient’s line of work and individual lifestyle. Opticians are not skilled to provide medical treatment for the eyes. 
 

ORTHOPTIST
Orthoptists are skilled to help patients with vision disorders such as lazy eyes, crossed eyes, and both eyes turning to different directions. Their training in orthoptics mean they can also help patients with slight double vision, which may be caused by injury, trauma, or bodily disorders. They help children correct and improve vision as well as regain confidence, and adults or the elderly recover from or adapt to vision changes. 
 

OPHTHALMOLOGIST
Ophthalmologists are the most comprehensively trained professional in the field of eye-care. They are in fact, physicians specialized in vision care. They can handle everything from basic examination of the eyes to surgical procedures for vision correction. They are usually referred to by optometrists, for issues that cannot be resolved by the latter. Ophthalmologists may specialize further into paediatric ophthalmology, LASIK surgery, or neuro-ophthalmology, among others. 
 


MSU Eye Centre

 

Thinking of a career as an eye-care professional? Be on your way to your dream. Graduate with a Diploma in Ophthalmic Dispensing or a Bachelor in Optometry (Honours). Join the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (FHLS) at Management and Science University (MSU), today! 
 

 

 

Management and Science University (MSU) rates Five Stars on the QS World Universities Rating System, for Teaching, Facilities, Graduate Employability, Social Responsibility, and Inclusiveness. Close to 99% of its graduating class are snapped up by employers within six months of convocation. The record earns the University first place in the national graduate employability register of the nation’s varsities.

 



Learn What Differentiates Optometrists From Opticians, Orthoptists, And Ophthalmologists

Eye care professionals are practitioners who provide vision or eye related services. Learn the extent of their professionalism through what they can and cannot do.

OPTOMETRIST
Optometrists are the primary caregivers in professional eye-care. They are the first specialist most people seek for advice on eye-related issues. These issues are mostly vision related but can include eye diseases such as glaucoma. 
 

OPTICIAN
Opticians are usually the second eye-care professional that patients seek after visiting an optometrist or even an ophthalmologist. They are skilled in fulfilling prescriptions for glasses and lenses. Their main job function is to help patients find a proper fit within considerations for the patient’s line of work and individual lifestyle. Opticians are not skilled to provide medical treatment for the eyes. 
 

ORTHOPTIST
Orthoptists are skilled to help patients with vision disorders such as lazy eyes, crossed eyes, and both eyes turning to different directions. Their training in orthoptics mean they can also help patients with slight double vision, which may be caused by injury, trauma, or bodily disorders. They help children correct and improve vision as well as regain confidence, and adults or the elderly recover from or adapt to vision changes. 
 

OPHTHALMOLOGIST
Ophthalmologists are the most comprehensively trained professional in the field of eye-care. They are in fact, physicians specialized in vision care. They can handle everything from basic examination of the eyes to surgical procedures for vision correction. They are usually referred to by optometrists, for issues that cannot be resolved by the latter. Ophthalmologists may specialize further into paediatric ophthalmology, LASIK surgery, or neuro-ophthalmology, among others. 
 


MSU Eye Centre

 

Thinking of a career as an eye-care professional? Be on your way to your dream. Graduate with a Diploma in Ophthalmic Dispensing or a Bachelor in Optometry (Honours). Join the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (FHLS) at Management and Science University (MSU), today! 
 

 

 

Management and Science University (MSU) rates Five Stars on the QS World Universities Rating System, for Teaching, Facilities, Graduate Employability, Social Responsibility, and Inclusiveness. Close to 99% of its graduating class are snapped up by employers within six months of convocation. The record earns the University first place in the national graduate employability register of the nation’s varsities.