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.
One of these enhanced services may be provided if your optometrist detects signs of a condition called ‘ocular hypertension’ or ‘glaucoma’ when they examine your eyes.
Some patients who may have previously attended the hospital eye service for monitoring of their condition (ocular hypertension) can now attend an optometrist in the community to have their condition reviewed and monitored, instead of travelling to a hospital eye clinic. Patients who are suitable for this service will be provided with information by their eye clinic staff.
Northern Ireland Primary Eyecare and Assessment Service (NI PEARS) is another optometry enhanced service for persons who have a new and sudden eye problem. NI PEARS is provided in the majority of optometry practices in Northern Ireland. For full information on this service click here.