Let your optician examine your eyes

The type of vision specialist you find may depend on the overall health of your eyes. You may need to visit an eye specialist for example if you have complicated eye diseases or vision problems. Other times it may be fully ok to visit an optician or optometrist for basic eye care.


For example:
An optician is not a doctor, but in some states they must complete training and be licensed. And in some states they can become certified, after special training, to fit contact lenses. Most opticians sell and fit eyeglasses, sunglasses, and specialty eyewear that are made to an optometrist's or ophthalmologist's prescription.

Most people fail to get regular check ups partly because they did not feel anything was wrong with their eyes. Even then, even if your eyes seem to work well, it is important you get annual or at least bi-annual examinations to help predict and detect problems down the road early on.


A few tests are evergreen: the trusty eye chart, which gives a basic idea of what you can see; a refraction test, in which you look through a machine to determine your exact prescription needs; a cover test, using a paddle, which reveals how well your eye muscles work together; a test for glaucoma; and a "slit lamp" examination and retinal exam, which look for diseases inside your eye.

Because sight is so important, be proactive in the care of your eyes. Find a qualified vision specialist -- one that has the right training and experience, can give proper diagnosis and treatment, is informative, promotes the best possible results, and shows genuine concern for the well-being of his or her patients.