Optometrist, Opthalmologist, Optician or Ocularist - what is the difference?
An optometrist specialises in primary eye care, which includes:
Optometrists complete a four year Bachelor of Optometry degree at university. Many have and will complete post graduate programmes through the Graduate Institute of Optometry. Optometrists may also enrol in a two year programme to become proficient in prescribing certain ocular therapeutic drugs.
An Ophthalmologist (eye specialist) is a medical doctor with additional specialised training in all aspects of eye care. Ophthalmologists are different from optometrists and opticians in their training and in what they can diagnose and treat. As a medical doctor, an ophthalmologist is licensed to practise medicine and surgery. An ophthalmologist diagnoses and treats all eye diseases, and performs eye surgery.
An Ophthalmologist’s training includes:
Ophthalmology is a surgical specialty that includes many different subspecialties, including:
The National Diploma in Optical Dispensing at Cape Peninsula University of Technology is a three-year course. Opticians play a very important role in the supply chain of spectacles. Opticians are commonly employed by optometrists but not always. They are technicians trained to design, verify and fit spectacle lenses and frames, and other devices to correct eyesight. They use prescriptions supplied by optometrists or ophthalmologists, but do not test vision or write prescriptions for visual correction. Opticians are not permitted to diagnose or treat eye diseases.
Ocularists manufacture custom-designed, individually crafted and hand painted ocular prosthetics as well as supplying and fitting a range of stock ocular prosthetics, or artificial eyes. An Ocularist is an eye care professional who specialises in the design, manufacture, and fitting of ocular prosthesis for people who have lost an eye or eyes due to trauma or illness. The fabrication process for a custom made eye typically includes taking an impression of the eye socket, shaping a plastic shell or model, painting the iris and sclera and then fitting the ocular prosthesis.
Chris Faul – Editor in chief
chris@realvision.co.za
Publisher: Amatola Publishing
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