The practice of assessing vision to establish whether glasses or contact lenses are needed to correct a visual defect, as carried out by an optometrist. Disorders of the eye may require treatment by an ophthalmologist. (See also ophthalmology; optician.)
1 The profession concerned with the examination of the eyes and related structures to determine the presence of vision problems and eye disorders and with the prescription and adaptation of lenses and other optical aids or the use of visual training for maximum visual efficiency. 2 The use of an optometer.
The study of the eye and the diagnosis and treatment of the disorders that affect it. Ophthalmology covers assessment of vision, prescription of glasses or contact lenses, and surgery for eye disorders, such as cataracts and glaucoma. (See also eye, examination of; optician; optometry; orthoptics.)... ophthalmology
(ophthalmic optician) n. a health specialist qualified to examine the eyes for eye diseases and visual defects and prescribe corrective lenses. Optometrists must be registered with the General Optical Council, having obtained a degree in optometry and one year’s preregistration experience. Compare optician.... optometrist
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