Eye health: Who can you go to?

Opticians can help with vision problems. They

• perform eye tests,
• can help you choose glasses or offer advice on using and taking care of contact lenses,
• make adjustments to glasses and contact lenses,
• craft low vision aids such as reading magnifiers or telescopic spectacles,
• repair these low vision aids, and
• do other manual and technical tasks.

Unlike doctors, they are not allowed to prescribe vision aids such as glasses or contact lenses.

Opticians have to complete three years of training. Some then also obtain a master craftsperson qualification or specialize with regular further training, in contact lenses, sports vision aids or magnifying vision aids, for instance.

Optometrists typically work at opticians shops, but can also work in specialist eye practices or clinics. They have special responsibilities there that master opticians are also able to perform: They do eye tests, help you choose a vision aid, and then can craft it. But optometrists can also do more comprehensive eye and vision examinations.

They are not actually allowed to diagnose diseases, or prescribe medication or vision aids themselves, But they are able to spot abnormalities in the eye at an early stage and can then recommend seeing a doctor.

There is no one specific way to become an optometrist in Germany, because it is not a legally protected professional title. Optometrists usually complete training as an optician, qualify as a master, and then further qualify in optometry (ancient Greek for “measuring the eye”). Others study optometry.

Eye doctors have studied medicine and then completed several years of training to become a specialist in ophthalmology. They work in ophthalmic practices or clinics.

They are the right people to go to if you have an eye disease: Eye doctors can closely examine your eye, prescribe medication or recommend other treatment. They also prescribe vision aids like glasses, and rehabilitation programs for coping better with eye diseases in everyday life. Some also specialize in eye surgery.

If you have symptoms or an increased risk of eye diseases – for example, if you have diabetes, severe shortsightedness or if close relatives have glaucoma – it is a good idea to go to an eye doctor.

Orthopists work in departments that are specialized in the non-surgical treatment of various eye problems. These departments are found in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, in some ophthalmology practices and in centers for people with visual impairments. Orthopists (ancient Greek for “seeing straight”) are specialized in preventing, detecting and treating amblyopia and eye movement problems like strabismus or nystagmus.

To detect visual impairments, orthoptists test things like visual acuity, eye position, and binocular vision. They use special approaches such as covering one eye with a patch for certain periods to prevent or treat disease. But they do not perform any treatment directly on the eye. They will also refer you to an ophthalmic practice if you need more testing.

Orthoptists have completed three years of training and work closely with eye doctors.