Optometrist, Orthoptist, Ophthalmologist – Who’s Who in Eye Care?
- Aug 6
- 2 min read
When it comes to looking after your eyes, knowing which professional to see can be confusing. While their titles may sound similar, optometrists, orthoptists, and ophthalmologists each play a unique role in protecting and improving vision.
At In-Sight Vision Therapy, our team of orthoptists works closely with both optometrists and ophthalmologists - and understanding how each profession contributes to your eye care can help you feel more confident about your vision journey.
Optometrists: The Eye Health Experts You See Most Often
Optometrists are usually your first point of contact for eye care. They perform comprehensive eye exams, prescribe glasses or contact lenses, and can diagnose and manage a range of eye conditions like dry eye, glaucoma, or age-related macular degeneration.
They also play a vital role in detecting changes in vision that could indicate a more serious health issue. Regular visits to an optometrist are especially important for children, as undetected vision problems can affect reading, learning, and classroom performance. While optometrists don’t perform surgery, they can prescribe medications for certain eye conditions and refer you to specialists when needed.
Orthoptists: Specialists in How the Eyes Work Together
Orthoptists focus on binocular vision - how the eyes work as a team. They assess and manage eye movement disorders, like strabismus (eye turns), amblyopia (lazy eye), and double vision. This makes them especially skilled in working with children and people experiencing vision-related difficulties in reading, learning, or everyday tasks. At In-Sight Vision Therapy, our orthoptists develop individualised vision therapy programs using targeted activities, prism lenses, and home-based exercises. These therapies are especially helpful for children who struggle with reading or focus, as well as adults experiencing visual fatigue from screen use, or visual issues following concussion or brain injury. Orthoptists don’t prescribe glasses, but they often work alongside optometrists and ophthalmologists to provide non-surgical treatments such as vision therapy, patching, and eye exercises.
Ophthalmologists: The Medical Doctors of Eye Care
Ophthalmologists are specialist medical doctors who diagnose and treat eye diseases, perform surgery, and manage complex eye conditions. They handle everything from cataract surgery and retinal procedures to managing serious conditions like diabetic eye disease or eye trauma. Patients are often referred to ophthalmologists when medical or surgical intervention is required.
Collaborative Care for the Best Outcomes
At In-Sight Vision Therapy, we believe in a team-based approach. While orthoptists are at the heart of our clinic, we regularly work in partnership with optometrists and ophthalmologists to ensure each person receives the most appropriate and effective care.
For example, a child struggling with reading might be referred to us by their optometrist after a routine eye exam shows no issues with clarity of vision. Our orthoptists may identify a binocular vision issue and begin a tailored vision therapy program. If a more complex or medical condition is found, we may involve an ophthalmologist to provide further assessment or treatment.
Each profession brings a unique skill set - and when they work together, the result is more comprehensive, personalised care.
Clear understanding leads to clear vision - and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
