Who gives Eye Exams? Optometrist?

Optician...in North America...doesn't do eye exams

Optician in the UK is what we call an Optometrist here...they do eye exams

An Optometrist only give refractory eye exams, these are the exams that you usually get to see if you need glasses.

An Ophthalmologist is a medical doctor that specializes in the treatment of the eye. They can give a refractory eye exam and often do as part of a full eye exam, that can include a visual field test or other exams. Most people do not need to see an ophthalmologist until they get older, often to test for glaucoma, unless they have an underlying condition.

An optometrist is a doctor of optometry who does full eye exams, which include refraction (getting your glasses prescription), checking visual fields, intraocular pressure, binocular vision, eye muscle function, pupil function, and the health of the entire eye (cornea, retina, optic nerve, etc.). He/she can also treat eye infections and manage eye diseases. The optometrist is the primary care doctor in the eye care field.

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who has specialized in the eyes. He/she can do an eye exam just as an optometrist, but usually concentrates on eye surgeries. They can do laser surgeries.

An optician is a licensed professional who helps with the fitting of your glasses and contacts. He/she is very knowledgable about all types of lenses and helps you find glasses. Opticians take measurements for you glasses and adjust them. They can also teach you how to insert, remove, and care for contacts.

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