验光师（眼科眼镜师）是提供初级眼保健服务的医疗保健专业人员。他们进行眼科检查以诊断视力缺陷，包括近视（近视），远视（远视），散光和老花眼，并开眼镜。验光师的眼睛检查将发现眼部疾病，例如白内障，青光眼和与年龄有关的黄斑变性。验光师还能够检测系统性疾病的眼部症状，例如多发性硬化症，高血压和糖尿病。如果需要医疗，则由验光师将患者转介给医生。爱尔兰的验光师不治疗眼疾-这是由医学专业人士完成的。
Optometrists (Ophthalmic Opticians) are health care professionals who provide primary eye care services. They carry out eye examinations to diagnosis vision defects including myopia (shortsight), hyperopia (longsight), astigmatism and presbyopia and prescribe spectacles. The optometrist's eye examination will detect eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma and age related macular degeneration. Optometrists are also able to detect ocular signs of systemic conditions such as multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure and diabetes. Patients are referred to doctors by optometrists if medical attention is required. Optometrists in Ireland do not treat eye disease - this is done by the medical profession.