What is an optician?

Optician is a term used for any practitioner that specifically works with people's eyes, and visual problems.

What is an optometrist?

An optometrist is an optician who is an expert in the field of visual correction and is licensed to examine people's eyes to ascertain why they may be having problems with their sight. They will be able to advise on any corrective steps that can be taken, such as wearing glasses or contact lenses. They are also able to prescribe this visual correction equipment.

What is an ophthalmic optician?

An ophthalmic optician is simply another name for an optometrist, and will be able to prescribe glasses and contact lenses for correcting visual problems.

What is a dispensing optician?

A dispensing optician is an optician that is able to fit and supply glasses and contact lenses, but they are not allowed to perform actual eye examinations.

How often should I go to have an eye test?

Opticians recommend that you have an eye test at least every two years, if you have had problems with your vision in the past. Our eyes change as we age, and we require different support for vision as we get older.

What does an eye test entail?

There are in fact hundreds of eye tests that may be performed by an optician to ascertain the health of your eyes, depending on your circumstances. These can range from machines that blow a short puff of air into the eye (known as a tonometer), to viewing the back of your eye using an ophthalmoscope, which can uncover problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes. The classic test chart, where the patient is asked to read letters which increasingly get smaller towards the bottom of the chart, is still widely used.

Can I get a free sight test?

On the NHS, a free sight test is available for many people. Some of the largest of these groups are people under 16 or over 60, people predisposed to glaucoma, those with diabetes, people who are receiving jobseeker's allowance or income support, and those that require complex lenses.

What are bi-focal lenses?

Some people have presbyopia, which is where objects which are near to us become blurred and harder to focus on. It is actually a perfectly natural occurrence, and will affect all of us as we age - although the effects are so gradual that sometimes we don't notice. Bi-focal lenses are lenses which have two different focus lengths with a distinct line in the middle of the lens. This means that a person suffering from presbyopia is able to clearly view close up items, as well as items located in the distance, depending on where they focus their vision.

What are varifocal lenses?

Varifocal lenses, similarly to bi-focal lenses, are designed to alleviate the problems associated with presbyopia, but there is not a visible line on the lenses. Whereas bi-focal lenses have 2 distinct focus lengths, varifocal lenses have a range. Whether to use varifocal or bi-focal lenses comes down to personal preference.

What happens if my glasses or contact lenses break?

In some circumstances, replacement glasses or lenses may be covered on the NHS.