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OPTOMETRISTS

Providing essential eye care

What is an optometrist?

An optometrist is a healthcare professional who provides fundamental eye care services. They are trained to assess vision and prescribe glasses, as well as diagnose and treat a range of eye conditions. Optometrists are university qualified and will be registered with the Optometry Board of Australia. Keep reading to find out more about optometrists and how our Oscar Wylee optometrists can help with your eye care needs.

FIND A optometrist
NEAR YOU

Schedule an appointment with an optometrist. Most eye tests are bulk billed.

FIND AN OPTOMETRIST NEAR YOU

Schedule an appointment with an optometrist. Most eye tests are bulk billed.

Is an optometrist a doctor?

No, optometrists are not medical doctors. They are registered healthcare professionals. The difference between the two lies in their education and area of expertise. Medical doctors have a degree in broader medicine, whereas healthcare professionals are those who have a degree in a specific health area.

Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

In the case of an optometrist, they will have a degree in optometry and the appropriate training, but that does not make them a medical doctor. This may seem confusing as optometrists are often referred to as eye doctors. An optometrist is permitted to use the title “doctor”, as long as they make it clear that they are a practitioner of optometry and not a medical doctor.There are medical doctors that specialise in eye care. These professionals are called ophthalmologists.

Optometrist vs ophthalmologist

An ophthalmologist, also known as eye surgeon or ophthalmic surgeon, is a medical doctor that has completed additional training in eye care. The main difference between an ophthalmologist and an optometrist is their level of education and expertise.

An ophthalmologist can carry out a range of eye health services that optometrists can not, from general eye and vision care such as prescribing glasses, to diagnosing and managing disorders of the eyes. Ophthalmologists can also perform eye surgery to treat vision disorders.

If an optometrist identifies an ocular disease or injury, they may refer their patient to an ophthalmologist for further treatment. You can find more on the differences between these two professions on our optometrist vs ophthalmologist page.

We do not provide ophthalmology services at The Optical Superstore.

Optometrist vs optician (optical dispenser)

In Australia, opticians and optical dispensers are two professions that can often be confused. Optician is used in the UK to describe eye care professionals who both prescribe and dispense glasses. As this definition is very closely related to optometry, it is not used in Australia. We instead use the terms optometrist and optical dispenser.

Optical dispensers and optometrists work together, but they do not provide the same level of services or have the same level of education. An optical dispenser fits and dispenses glasses for patients. They do not prescribe glasses or diagnose eye conditions, like an optometrist. They are trained to fit frames to faces, measure the distance between a patient’s pupils, to ensure the best fit for glasses, and may offer advice on selecting the right frames.

BOOK AN EYE TEST NEAR YOU

All major health funds accepted.

BOOK AN EYE TEST NEAR YOU

All major health funds accepted.

What does an optometrist do?

What does an optometrist do?

Optometrists are primary vision care providers. This means that they are the first point of contact for your eye and vision needs. If you are experiencing any changes to your vision, or have eye health concerns, optometrists will help you address these issues. At The Optical Superstore our optometrists are dedicated to helping patients manage their eye health.

What does an optometrist do?

Optometrist eye examinations: What to expect

Optometrist eye examinations: What to expect

During an eye test, you can expect your optometrist to take a comprehensive medical history to figure out what they should be looking out for. They may ask you questions about your family history, past and present medical issues, medications you might be on, injuries, and other factors. It is important to be as thorough as possible with your answers to ensure that the test covers all likely possibilities.

A comprehensive eye test will vary slightly for each individual, depending on your age or specific conditions. It may include these tests:

Visual Acuity

To measure the sharpness of your vision.

refraction

To determine your prescription for eyeglasses if required.

retinal photography

Your optometrist may use high resolution digital cameras to take images of the back of your eye to look at changes over time and find out the state of your retina.

slit lamp test

A test to examine the structure of your eye under high magnification. This is important to detect a wide range of eye conditions and diseases such as cataracts, macular degeneration, corneal ulcers and diabetic retinopathy.

colour vision test

A test that is used to measure the pressure in your eyes that can help with diagnosis of some ocular diseases including glaucoma.

pressure test

To measure the sharpness of your vision.

eye movements

To determine how well your eyes work as a team to follow a moving object and focus on various targets.

BOOK AN EYE TEST NEAR YOU

All major health funds accepted.

BOOK AN EYE TEST NEAR YOU

All major health funds accepted.

When should you see an optometrist?

If you have noticed any changes to your eyesight, whether it be blurry vision, eye strain, trouble reading small print or seeing far away objects, you should come in and see your optometrist for an eye test. An optometrist should be able to diagnose your vision issue and help treat it. According to Allied Health Professions Australia, there are several key reasons as to why you should come and see an optometrist.

  • A regular eye test can detect any eye conditions or diseases early on, allowing your optometrist to manage these before they become a bigger issue.
  • A routine eye test can be important in detecting health conditions that may affect the eye, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
  • An eye test is also a good way to see where your overall health and well-being is at.

Source: Allied Health Professions Australia

How often should you get your eyes checked?

At Oscar Wylee, we generally advise that patients have their eyes examined every 2 years. However, we recommend annual eye tests for patients over 60, as we can monitor and provide care for the ageing eye.

If you are concerned about any new changes in your vision, you should have this checked as soon as possible. The frequency of your eye test will be determined by other factors such as general health issues (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure) and your prescription.

FIND A STORE NEAR YOU

Schedule an appointment with an optometrist. Most eye tests are bulk billed.