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

---

Synonym Usage

See eye doctor.

Etymology

Origin of optician

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

Explanation

The person who makes your eye glasses is an optician. They work in the back room of the glasses shop, or at a factory, fabricating the lenses and attaching them to the frames. While an optician can determine whether you are nearsighted or farsighted, if you have a medical eye problem, you probably want to visit an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. Both of these are eye doctors, but the latter has completed full medical training and has chosen eye health as a specialty.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

optician

"There are different ways to get the eyes checked out in the UK, you can always go to a local optician, they're very well equipped now," he added.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

Alicia had been seen by an optician just one month prior and had not shown any other signs of being unwell.

From BBC ● May 27, 2026

In Florstadt, automated procedures coexist with manual handling at fixed workstations, such as preparing a single contact lens ordered by an optician for a specific patient for further shipping.

From Barron's ● Apr. 5, 2026

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 ● Jun. 20, 2025

Mr. Beukers, the optician next door, had given her space in his shop from which she had taken orders to give to our repairmen in their homes.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom