Which professional treats vision problems and prescribes corrective lenses?

The role of an optometrist is focused on examining, diagnosing, and treating various vision problems. They perform comprehensive eye examinations and are trained to identify a range of eye health issues. In addition to these services, optometrists also prescribe corrective lenses, such as glasses or contact lenses, tailored to meet the individual visual needs of their patients. This professional plays a crucial role in primary eye care and helps manage conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

While opticians assist in fitting and dispensing lenses and frames prescribed by optometrists or ophthalmologists, they do not diagnose or treat vision issues themselves. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who can perform surgeries and treat more complex eye diseases, but their primary role is not solely focused on vision correction through lenses. An orthopedic surgeon specializes in the musculoskeletal system and is not involved in eye care. Therefore, the optometrist is the correct choice for someone who treats vision problems and prescribes corrective lenses.