Information about eye care professionals
There are a range of professionals involved in looking after your eye health including, optometrists, dispensing opticians and other staff:
Optometrists
Optometrists (Opticians) are qualified professionals who are trained to assess your vision and your eye health.
Optometrists examine all parts of your eyes and can detect many eye conditions and diseases. The vision assessment that optometrists perform includes:
- how well you can see on an eye examination chart
- your colour vision
- your visual field
- your eye muscle movements
- (if necessary) your ability to detect contrast
- Examine the internal eye
- Examine the external eye and the surface of the eye
Optometry practices may have an Independent Prescriber (IP) Optometrists, these are optometrists who can prescribe ophthalmic medications and, if required, can provide you with a prescription which you can take to your local pharmacy.
If an optometrist detects a problem with your eyes they may be able to manage it themselves or, they may refer you to another eye-care professional e.g. hospital eye service.
If you are unable to leave your home, some optometrists can provide an eye examination at home.
Dispensing opticians
Dispensing opticians are trained professionals who can prescribe and fit spectacles, contact lenses, and low vision aids.
Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians must be registered with the General Optical Council. If you wish to check the registration of an optometrist or dispensing optician, visit the General Optical Council website.
Enhanced services
In addition to sight tests and the provision of optical appliances such as spectacles and contact lenses, optometrists may also be approved to provide enhanced services.
Enhanced services enable the optometrist to undertake additional or repeat tests to better determine the status of your eye health. Your optometrist will advise you if you require these additional or repeat tests. Find out more here
Your eye health is important
It is important that you consider your eye health as you do for the rest of your body.
Many eye conditions and problems are linked to other medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Smoking is linked to eye disease and sight loss, with smokers being four times more likely to have macular degeneration. Loss of sight is something which we all fear and want to avoid.
What to expect from an eye test
You should have an eye test every two years. Find out what is involved in an eye test from this short video:
Could you be entitled to free Health Service sight tests?
If you have a medical condition such as diabetes, or if you have a close family relative with glaucoma, you may be eligible for free Health Service sight tests. You can check if you’re eligible on the Business Services Organisation website.