Who is an optician who helps you buy eyeglasses? Let's find out exactly!

Have you ever worn glasses ? Or maybe someone in your family or a friend uses them? So, after we go to an eye doctor and get our eyes checked, if we want to wear glasses, there is someone who helps us choose those glasses and adjust them to our face properly. That person is what we call an Optician . Many people don't know much about this. So today, let's talk about this in detail .

Is an optician a doctor?

This is the biggest problem that many people have. No, an optician is not a doctor. That is, he does not have an ``MD - Medical Doctor'' or a ``DO - Doctor of Osteopathy''. Simply put, an optician cannot diagnose or treat diseases in your eyes.

So who is an optician? He is a specially trained technician. To be precise, someone who assists ophthalmologists and optometrists. They help you before, during, and after your eye exam.

What qualifications are needed to become an Optician?

Actually, the educational qualifications required to become an optician vary from country to country. For example, in the United States, each state has different laws. But generally, you need to have a qualification such as an advanced level and in addition, something like a technical degree in this field. In many countries, you also need to get a license to work as an optician. There are times when you need to have a certain amount of work experience to get this license.

Similarly, in Sri Lanka, to become an optician, one needs to undergo training and perhaps even register with relevant institutions.

What exactly does an optician do?

Okay, now let's look at what exactly an optician does. After your eye doctor (Optometrist or Ophthalmologist) prescribes glasses or contact lenses for you, the optician is the one who helps you.

• Choosing the right glasses for you: Based on your prescription , he or she will help you choose a frame that suits your face shape and your preferences. Sometimes, if you have other eye conditions (such as cataracts), he or she will also advise you on the right lenses for you.
• Lenses are made: An optician will cut the lenses according to your prescription and fit them into the frame to fit your chosen frame.
• Fitting the glasses properly: This is very important. It is not enough to just put the glasses on your face. They should be made to fit your face, ears, and nose perfectly, without causing any discomfort or pain, and should be easy to use. It is his responsibility to make sure that the arms of the glasses are properly bent and the nose pads are properly adjusted. Otherwise, you may feel dizzy and unable to see clearly.
• Teaching you how to use contact lenses: If you wear contact lenses, your optician will explain to you how to safely insert them, remove them, clean them, and how long to wear them.
• Assisting with eye exams: Sometimes, an optician helps the optometrist perform some basic tests before the eye exam.

Imagine you bought a new pair of glasses, but they hurt behind your ears when you wear them, or they keep slipping down your nose. In those cases, you can go back to the optician to have them adjusted .

What types of eye diseases does an optician treat?

This is also very important. An optician does not treat any eye disease. He does not diagnose any disease . He only fits you with glasses or contact lenses to give you the clearest possible vision (as close to 20/20 vision) according to the prescription given by your optometrist or ophthalmologist.

At what interval should we get our eyes checked?

Our eyes are very precious. Therefore, it is important to take care of your eye health regularly. The frequency of eye exams usually varies with your age.

Eye care for young children

When a child is born, until he or she starts school, you should have your child's eyes checked by a pediatrician at every well-child visit. After that, it's a good idea to have your child's eyes checked once a year or two.

Adults under 40 years old

If you are under 40, you should probably have your eyes checked every 5 to 10 years. However, if you wear glasses or have a family history of eye problems , it is best to have your eyes checked more often.

Adults between 40 and 54 years old

People in this age group should have their eyes checked every 2 to 4 years.

Adults over 55 years of age

If you are over 55 years old, it is advisable to have your eyes checked every 1 to 3 years.

Those who need special attention

These time limits are for ordinary people. However,

• If you already wear glasses or contact lenses ,
• If you have a disease like Diabetes Mellitus ,
• If anyone in your family has eye diseases like glaucoma ,

You should have your eyes checked more often, perhaps once a year. It's best to ask your eye doctor about this.

How do we take care of our eyes?

There are several things we can do to take care of our eyes:

• If you notice any changes in your vision (e.g., blurred vision, double vision), tell a doctor immediately.
• If you wear glasses or contact lenses, get your eyes checked regularly and change your prescription if necessary.
• If you have any of the following symptoms, seek medical advice immediately:
• Blurry vision.
• Double vision (Diplopia).
• New pain in or around the eyes that does not subside for several days.
• Light sensitivity - If it is more difficult to look at light than before.
• If you feel like your vision is gradually getting worse .

What is the difference between an Optician and an Optometrist?

This is also a point where many people get confused. An optician and an optometrist are two different people. Although both of them help with the health of our eyes, their roles are different.

• Optometrist: This is the doctor who examines your eyes. He or she diagnoses eye problems and diseases (e.g., nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism). He or she also prescribes the necessary treatments (glasses, contact lenses, and some eye exercises). However, an optometrist cannot perform eye surgery. If such a procedure is needed, he or she will refer you to an ophthalmologist.

• Optician: As mentioned earlier, an optician is a person who makes and fits glasses, contact lenses, or other vision correction aids for you according to a prescription from an optometrist or ophthalmologist. If your glasses' frame breaks or you need to replace the lenses, an optician will do the same.

Simply put, if you feel you have a problem with your eyes, the first thing you should do is go to an optometrist or ophthalmologist. If they tell you to get glasses, you can take that prescription and go to an optician to get them fitted.

An optician will not help you diagnose or treat your new symptoms. Therefore, if you notice a change in your vision or develop new eye symptoms, be sure to see an optometrist, ophthalmologist, or your family doctor.

Take-Home Message

• An optician is not a doctor. He or she does not diagnose or treat eye diseases.
• An optician is a technician who makes and fits eyeglasses and contact lenses according to the prescription given by an ophthalmologist.
• An optician can help you adjust and repair your glasses .
• You should get an eye exam from either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist.
• If you notice any changes in your vision or new eye symptoms, seek medical advice immediately.

So, I hope you now have a clear understanding of who an optician is and what they do. All of these people help us protect our eyes.

` Optician, Ophthalmologist, Eyeglasses, Contact Lenses, Eye Exam, Eye Health, Optometrist