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optician

American  
[op-tish-uhn] / ɒpˈtɪʃ ən /

noun

  1. a person who makes or sells eyeglasses and, usually, contact lenses, for remedying defects of vision in accordance with the prescriptions of ophthalmologists and optometrists.

  2. a maker or seller of optical glass and instruments.


optician British  
/ ɒpˈtɪʃən /

noun

  1. Compare ophthalmologist

    1. Also called: optometrist.  a general name used to refer to an ophthalmic optician, a person qualified to examine the eyes and prescribe and supply spectacles and contact lenses

    2. a general name used to refer to a dispensing optician, a person who supplies and fits spectacle frames but is not qualified to prescribe lenses

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See eye doctor.

Etymology

Origin of optician

1670–80; from French opticien, from Medieval Latin optic(a) ( optics ) + French -ien -ian

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As is the nature of fertility treatment, all of these appointments have to be done at very specific times of the month - and fitting this around her job at a private opticians has proven difficult.

From BBC

Mr Barlow has now been prescribed antidepressants and sleeping tablets, and his optician suspected his persistent eye irritation may have been caused by the mould and damp.

From BBC

The Welsh government said all children should be screened in schools at age four or five to detect early problems, but they should also be taken to the optician's regularly for checks.

From BBC

Detailed scans by the optician showed damage to her optic nerve because of swelling in her brain.

From BBC

In areas like Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire, parents are instead given advice in their child's early development checks, or are signposted towards free NHS tests at their local optician.

From BBC