Publish date September 23, 2010

What Is Optometry?

Optometry is an occupation long-known in Europe and worldwide. In our country the general public is not yet sufficiently familiar with that branch of health care. It is a specialization whose main task is vision correction…

Therefore, the optometrists are experts trained to perform an examination of vision, revealing various abnormalities of vision, and identifying possible diseases that affect the eye or visual system of a man. Addressing such a specialist can certainly be needed and extremely useful.

Like any other profession, optometry differs in various countries in the way of education and practice. In Croatia, it is controlled by the government through relevant ministries and it works closely with other health organizations and specialists. It is one of the three disciplines involved in the care of vision. Besides optometrists there are also ophthalmologists who provide medical care, and opticians who provide optical aids such as eyeglasses and contact lenses.

What is the difference between optometrist and ophthalmologist?


Optometrist is qualified to perform the eye test and treat conditions such as short-sightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. He is qualified for prescription of dioptre glasses, contact lenses, eye exercises and visual aids. He is familiar with all types of eyeglasses and contact lenses, and is capable of preparing and making eyeglasses. He also recognizes diseases and inflammations of the eye, such as; gray cataract, glaucoma, conjunctivitis, and others. Where necessary, he advises the patient to visit ophthalmologist for the treatment of eye conditions. He has no right to operate or treat the sick eye.
Ophthalmologist is a doctor who provides complete eye care, including an overview of vision. He is not directly connected with the production of eyeglasses and usually do not give advice about the selection of prescription lenses. He medically treats all eye diseases and injuries and perform surgeries of the eye.
Therefore, the main difference between optometrist and ophthalmologist is that optometrist besides quality examination of the eye also gives advices to the patients to choose particular kind of prescription lenses, depending on their needs and predispositions. But on the other side, he does not treat and operate the sick eye, as is the case with the ophthalmologist.