The word optician is a general term that covers both optometrists and dispensing opticians.
An optometrist gives you an eye test to see how good your eyesight is, and if your eyes are healthy or not. They will tell you if you need glasses or contact lenses.
Types of Optician
Dispensing opticians fit glasses and contact lenses, but they do not give eye tests. They give you advice on the types of lenses for your glasses, and help you choose frames for them.
There are also ophthalmologists who are doctors that specialise in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and in the prevention of eye disease and injury.
As with dental treatment, there are now new prices for optical care on the NHS (National Health Service, a government policy which gives health care to people who live in the UK).
Prices
All prices for optical treatment have gone up slightly, however there are many different ways of either getting free optical treatment on the NHS, or getting some help towards the payments for treatment. You receive free eyesight tests if you:
- Are under the age of 16
- Are aged 16, 17 or 18 in full-time education
- Are aged 60 or over
- Are a diagnosed glaucoma (an eye disease that can cause blindness) patient
- Have been told you are at risk of glaucoma
- Are a diabetic
You can also get vouchers towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses if you:
- Are under the age of 16
- Are aged 16, 17 or 18 in full-time education
- Are getting, or your partner gets, Income Support (support paid by the government to unemployed people), income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (financial help from the government for people who are actively seeking work) or Pension Credit (for people over the age of 60 living in Great Britain)
- You are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate, or
- You are named on a valid HC2 certificate (a certificate you gain if your income is not great enough for you to afford treatment)
Availability
There are shops all over the UK, like Boots and Tesco, that have optician departments in them, and there are also many different specific opticians too, such as Specsavers and Vision Express, so when you first move to the UK, it is not hard to find out more information about eye care. And because of the changes to prices on the NHS, you shouldn’t be worried about the prices for eye tests of glasses, because in most cases you can either receive free treatment, or at least get some kind of discount.
Because eyesight is so important, you should visit your optometrist or ophthalmologist for an eye exam at least once a year, depending how good your eyesight is.
By Tristan Mann
Health 
