WPS Optometrists
for all your online optical needs

Optometrist or Optician - what's the difference?

When the government deregulated optics the term optician became something anyone who sold glasses could use, whether they were qualified or not. However, to call yourself an optometrist (ophthalmic optician) or dispensing optician you have to qualified and registered with the General Optical Council.

Each is trained in a slightly different way, with dispensing opticians usually offering specialist advice about spectacles or contact lenses and optometrists focusing on examining the eyes to ensure they are healthy and whether any correction is necessary (although an optometrist is also qualified to fit contact lens and offer advice about spectacle lenses).

Your eyes should always be examined by an optometrist. However, when the time comes to choose glasses you will often be handed over to a dispensing optician to assist you further. It is also illegal for an non registered person to supply glasses to certain groups of people (for example children under the age of 16).