See your optometrist for vision care
Patient Rights Charter
Optometrists and other practitioners
Optometrists in public health settings
See your optometrist for vision care
Your optometrist offers comprehensive vision care and will help you to obtain the best from your vision. It is important to have your eyes examined regularly. The sooner eye health and vision problems are discovered, the sooner you can be helped.
Your optometrist is qualified and registered to:
-
examine your eyes for vision disorders
-
prescribe, supply and repair spectacles
-
detect and diagnose signs of eye disease
-
detect and diagnose signs of health disorders involving the eyes
-
prescribe and supply contact lenses
-
analyse and treat eye co-ordination disorders
-
prescribe other specialised optical aids
-
contribute to the care of the partially sighted
-
advise on lighting.
Optometrists also advise on:
-
sunglasses
-
sports vision
-
visually-related learning disabilities
-
eye safety and vision requirements for home and industry
-
fashion spectacle frames.
Some optometrists specialise in these areas.
If an eye disease or general health disorder is detected, your optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) or general medical practitioner.
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When your optometrist examines your eyes:
-
You will be asked about your eyes and vision, your family’s eyes and vision and your general health.
-
Your eyes will be examined to ensure that they are healthy.
-
Specialised techniques and instruments will be used to examine the various functions of your eyes.
-
If you need spectacles, you will be advised on the choice of lenses from the many types available and assisted in the choice of frames that must be fitted correctly.
-
If you would like to have contact lenses, you will be advised of the most suitable type for your eyes and carefully instructed in their use and care.
Your optometrist will discuss your vision and offer advice. Do not hesitate to ask if there is something you do not understand or want explained in more detail.
Medical insurance cover
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How to choose your optometrist
Choose an optometrist who is a member of Optometrists Association Australia. Members of this professional body will make every effort to ensure that the highest quality of vision care is provided.
As a member of Optometrists Association Australia your optometrist:
-
takes part in continuing professional development
-
has access to the latest technology and information from Australia and overseas
-
agrees to abide by the Optometrists Association Australia code of ethics—ensuring a responsible and well-disciplined profession
-
is accountable for the quality of professional services offered.
Members of Optometrists Association Australia are:
-
willing to talk to interested groups
-
available for advice
-
promoting vision safety in sport, industry and the home
-
constantly striving to maintain high standards
-
committed to quality vision care for all Australians.
Optometrists Association Australia offers:
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Optometrists
Optometrists conduct eye and vision examinations, prescribe spectacles and contact lenses and carry out treatment for eye disorders. Optometrists do not perform surgery, but may use drugs to treat eye diseases in some States. Optometrists must complete a four or five year university qualification specifically on the eye and its care before they can be registered to practise. Optometrists may also dispense visual appliances, such as glasses and contact lenses, from their own practice. An increasing proportion of the work optometrists do relates to eye disease and problems which affect the way in which the eyes work together (binocular vision). Optometrists in some states can also prescribe drugs to treat minor eye diseases such as conjunctivitis.
There are three other major groups of people involved in eye care.
Ophthalmologists
Ophthalmologists are medical practitioners who concentrate on treating eye disease with drugs and surgery. Although their specialist training is centred in these areas they also prescribe spectacles.
There is a considerable degree of overlap in the services optometrists and ophthalmologists provide. Both perform refraction and prescribe spectacles and contact lenses, both are qualified in the detection of eye disease and there is a growing overlap in the treatment of minor ocular disorders. Only ophthalmologists perform major eye surgery and treat serious eye disease.
Orthoptists
Orthoptists act as assistants to ophthalmologists. They perform many tasks that are similar to those of optometrists, except that they provide these services on behalf of, and under the supervision of, an ophthalmologist. Most orthoptists work in hospitals and in ophthalmologists' practices.
Optical dispensers
Optical dispensers grind and fit lenses and sell spectacles according to a prescription written by an optometrist or medical practitioner. Some optical dispensers and optical dispensing chains utilise optometrists or ophthalmologists either on the premises (when the law permits) or in adjacent premises for obtaining prescriptions for spectacles. Optical dispensers are frequently employed by optometrists as assistants in optometric practices.
Contact Optometrists Association Australia on (03) 9668 8500 for further assistance.
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Optometrists in public health settings
Optometrists work in a variety of settings in Australia following registration by the Optometry Board of Australia.
In addition to practising privately, there are opportunities for optometrists to get involved in Australian and overseas public health settings including:
-
sessional work at public hospitals in eye care clinics;
-
providing eye care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around Australia through Visiting Services; and
-
overseas outreach work through the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE) and Optometry Giving Sight (OGS).
See your optometrist for vision care
Patient Rights Charter
Optometrists and other practitioners
Optometrists in public health settings
See your optometrist for vision care
Your optometrist offers comprehensive vision care and will help you to obtain the best from your vision. It is important to have your eyes examined regularly. The sooner eye health and vision problems are discovered, the sooner you can be helped.
Your optometrist is qualified and registered to:
-
examine your eyes for vision disorders
-
prescribe, supply and repair spectacles
-
detect and diagnose signs of eye disease
-
detect and diagnose signs of health disorders involving the eyes
-
prescribe and supply contact lenses
-
analyse and treat eye co-ordination disorders
-
prescribe other specialised optical aids
-
contribute to the care of the partially sighted
-
advise on lighting.
Optometrists also advise on:
-
sunglasses
-
sports vision
-
visually-related learning disabilities
-
eye safety and vision requirements for home and industry
-
fashion spectacle frames.
Some optometrists specialise in these areas.
If an eye disease or general health disorder is detected, your optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) or general medical practitioner.
Back to top
When your optometrist examines your eyes:
-
You will be asked about your eyes and vision, your family’s eyes and vision and your general health.
-
Your eyes will be examined to ensure that they are healthy.
-
Specialised techniques and instruments will be used to examine the various functions of your eyes.
-
If you need spectacles, you will be advised on the choice of lenses from the many types available and assisted in the choice of frames that must be fitted correctly.
-
If you would like to have contact lenses, you will be advised of the most suitable type for your eyes and carefully instructed in their use and care.
Your optometrist will discuss your vision and offer advice. Do not hesitate to ask if there is something you do not understand or want explained in more detail.
Medical insurance cover
Back to top
How to choose your optometrist
Choose an optometrist who is a member of Optometrists Association Australia. Members of this professional body will make every effort to ensure that the highest quality of vision care is provided.
As a member of Optometrists Association Australia your optometrist:
-
takes part in continuing professional development
-
has access to the latest technology and information from Australia and overseas
-
agrees to abide by the Optometrists Association Australia code of ethics—ensuring a responsible and well-disciplined profession
-
is accountable for the quality of professional services offered.
Members of Optometrists Association Australia are:
-
willing to talk to interested groups
-
available for advice
-
promoting vision safety in sport, industry and the home
-
constantly striving to maintain high standards
-
committed to quality vision care for all Australians.
Optometrists Association Australia offers:
Back to top
Optometrists
Optometrists conduct eye and vision examinations, prescribe spectacles and contact lenses and carry out treatment for eye disorders. Optometrists do not perform surgery, but may use drugs to treat eye diseases in some States. Optometrists must complete a four or five year university qualification specifically on the eye and its care before they can be registered to practise. Optometrists may also dispense visual appliances, such as glasses and contact lenses, from their own practice. An increasing proportion of the work optometrists do relates to eye disease and problems which affect the way in which the eyes work together (binocular vision). Optometrists in some states can also prescribe drugs to treat minor eye diseases such as conjunctivitis.
There are three other major groups of people involved in eye care.
Ophthalmologists
Ophthalmologists are medical practitioners who concentrate on treating eye disease with drugs and surgery. Although their specialist training is centred in these areas they also prescribe spectacles.
There is a considerable degree of overlap in the services optometrists and ophthalmologists provide. Both perform refraction and prescribe spectacles and contact lenses, both are qualified in the detection of eye disease and there is a growing overlap in the treatment of minor ocular disorders. Only ophthalmologists perform major eye surgery and treat serious eye disease.
Orthoptists
Orthoptists act as assistants to ophthalmologists. They perform many tasks that are similar to those of optometrists, except that they provide these services on behalf of, and under the supervision of, an ophthalmologist. Most orthoptists work in hospitals and in ophthalmologists' practices.
Optical dispensers
Optical dispensers grind and fit lenses and sell spectacles according to a prescription written by an optometrist or medical practitioner. Some optical dispensers and optical dispensing chains utilise optometrists or ophthalmologists either on the premises (when the law permits) or in adjacent premises for obtaining prescriptions for spectacles. Optical dispensers are frequently employed by optometrists as assistants in optometric practices.
Contact Optometrists Association Australia on (03) 9668 8500 for further assistance.
Back to top
Optometrists in public health settings
Optometrists work in a variety of settings in Australia following registration by the Optometry Board of Australia.
In addition to practising privately, there are opportunities for optometrists to get involved in Australian and overseas public health settings including:
-
sessional work at public hospitals in eye care clinics;
-
providing eye care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around Australia through Visiting Services; and
-
overseas outreach work through the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE) and Optometry Giving Sight (OGS).