What is the difference between an optician, optometrist, and ophthalmologist?

Opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists all provide eye care services. Optometrists and ophthalmologists examine eyes and prescribe vision-correcting lenses. Opticians manufacture and dispense corrective lenses. For the majority of individuals an optometrist is the doctor of choice for routine eye health and vision examinations. . OPTICIAN An optician fits and fabricates eyewear from a prescription of an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist. The opticians' functions include prescription analysis; determination of the lens types best suited to the wearers needs and assistance in frame selection. OPTOMETRIST Doctors of Optometry are independent primary health care providers who specialize in the eye. Optometrists dispense ocular medications, prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses, and diagnose and treat diseases and disorders. They provide total eye health and vision care for all ages. An optometrist has completed four years of college premedical education and four years of graduate ...  more

The optician dispenses eyeglasses and contact lenses and may also make eyeglasses and other optical instruments. An optician sometimes also tests the eyes and provides a prescription. An optometrist is a specialist in examining and measuring the refractive power of the eyes. An optometrist prescribes corrective lenses and exercises. An ophthalmologist (watch the spelling ph and th!) is an eye specialist who can prescribe drugs or perform surgery. An ophthalmologist has an M.D. (doctor of medicine), an optometrist an O.D. (doctor of optometry), and an optician a license to examine eyes and prescribe treatment. The term oculist is rather dated but is somewhat of a catchall for a doctor of medicine who can examine and treat eyes, including performing surgery. The beginning of each of these words is based on Latin opti- and oculus and Greek ophthalmos, meaning eye.  more