Optometry is an area of eye care that checks for eye disorders and sight problems. Eye care professionals trained in optometry are called optometrists.
Optometrists are often confused with opticians. The difference is that opticians are trained to fit glasses and contact lenses once a patient has been assessed by an optometrist. If you have visited an optician’s store, an optometrist may have checked your eyes for sight problems before an optician fitted your glasses or contact lenses. Optometrists can detect signs of eye injury, disease, or abnormality. They can also identify general health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Optometrists work in opticians’ stores, primary care settings and hospital eye clinics. Some optometrists specialise in specific eye conditions such as glaucoma and medical retina where they manage and treat patients with those conditions.
This video, 'What is an optometrist?' explains what an optometrist does and how they can look after the health of your eyes, as well as possible signs of other underlying health conditions.