Their main duties include:
Performing eye exams to check vision and eye health.
Diagnosing vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia.
Prescribing glasses and contact lenses.
Detecting eye diseases and conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic eye disease.
Treating some eye conditions with medications (depending on local laws and qualifications).
Referring patients to ophthalmologists (medical doctors specializing in eye surgery and advanced eye care) when surgery or specialized treatment is needed.
Optometrist vs. Ophthalmologist
Optometrist (OD): Provides routine eye care, vision testing, and prescriptions.
Ophthalmologist (MD or DO): A medical doctor who can diagnose and treat all eye diseases and perform eye surgery.
For example, if you're having trouble seeing the board at school or reading small print, you would typically visit an optometrist first for an eye exam.