What is an optician?

An optician is a healthcare professional who examines the eyes, tests vision, identifies certain eye diseases and conditions, and prescribes, fits, and supplies spectacles and contact lenses.

In the United Kingdom, the term "optician" can cover two related but distinct professions. An ophthalmic optician, more commonly called an optometrist, is a university-trained practitioner who holds a three- or four-year degree in Optometry, has completed a year of supervised pre-registration practice, and is registered with the General Optical Council (GOC). An optometrist examines eyes, prescribes corrective lenses, detects signs of eye disease and systemic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, and refers patients to the NHS for further investigation or treatment where needed. A dispensing optician, by contrast, fits and supplies spectacles and, with additional training, contact lenses, using the prescription written by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. Dispensing opticians also hold a GOC registration and complete a three-year qualification.

A third category, the ophthalmologist, is a medical doctor who has specialised in diseases of the eye and can perform surgery, including cataract surgery, laser treatment, and retinal surgery. Ophthalmologists work primarily in hospitals and are reached through a referral from a GP or an optometrist.

An NHS sight test (eye examination) is free for people under 16, those aged 60 or over, full-time students under 19, people on certain means-tested benefits, people diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma, people aged 40 or over with an immediate family history of glaucoma, and certain other groups. Others pay privately for their sight test; prices typically range from £20 to £40 at high-street optician chains such as Specsavers, Vision Express, and Boots Opticians, and can be higher at independent practices. Vouchers towards the cost of spectacles are available for eligible NHS patients.

Sight tests are recommended at least every two years for healthy adults, and more often for those with diabetes, glaucoma, or other conditions, and for young children. An eye examination can detect the earliest signs of serious conditions including glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and, occasionally, brain tumours and cardiovascular disease, so a regular test is an important part of general health care as well as vision correction.

Opticians work under the Opticians Act 1989 and GOC Standards of Practice, which set out the training requirements, professional conduct rules, and scope of practice for both optometrists and dispensing opticians.