Okay I’m going to step in here, you’re both not wrong, you just might come from places with different systems. Where I live (Los Angeles) there are opticians (the glasses shop) and optometrists (the eye doctor). Opticians can do a basic check of your eyesight or the prescription in your existing glasses. But they don’t do a complete eye exam, which includes checking your retinas and eye pressure and looking for cataracts, among other things. For that you need an optometrist. And if they think you might have something serious, they’ll send you to an opthalmologist.
Many optometrists also sell glasses, because there you are with your eyes and new prescription. But your eye health is their main thing.
And some opticians are actually better at fitting you with the most comfortable and effective glasses, because that’s their main thing.
Where I go, a very good optometrist and a glasses shop sort of share a space, and I often get my glasses at that shop, but I used to walk out with my prescription and shop at a different excellent optician before he retired.
Anyway, if you’ve never had a complete eye exam, including glaucoma test, you probably should. Especially because some eye health issues are more common in people who need glasses.
Okay I’m going to step in here, you’re both not wrong, you just might come from places with different systems. Where I live (Los Angeles) there are opticians (the glasses shop) and optometrists (the eye doctor). Opticians can do a basic check of your eyesight or the prescription in your existing glasses. But they don’t do a complete eye exam, which includes checking your retinas and eye pressure and looking for cataracts, among other things. For that you need an optometrist. And if they think you might have something serious, they’ll send you to an opthalmologist.
Many optometrists also sell glasses, because there you are with your eyes and new prescription. But your eye health is their main thing.
And some opticians are actually better at fitting you with the most comfortable and effective glasses, because that’s their main thing.
Where I go, a very good optometrist and a glasses shop sort of share a space, and I often get my glasses at that shop, but I used to walk out with my prescription and shop at a different excellent optician before he retired.
Anyway, if you’ve never had a complete eye exam, including glaucoma test, you probably should. Especially because some eye health issues are more common in people who need glasses.