Eye health · 5 min read
Eye specialist or optician: which one do you need?
If your sight has blurred slowly, reading has got harder, or your spectacles feel out of date, an eye test at an optician is the right first step, and it is quicker and cheaper than a hospital visit. If your eye hurts, is red, has lost vision suddenly, or you see flashes or a curtain, go to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) the same day.
Autorefractor reading
You look at a picture inside the machine while it measures how your eye focuses light. A starting point, not the final number.
About 2 minutesRefined on a trial frame
Lenses are swapped in a trial frame while you read the chart. Your answers fine-tune the power, one step at a time.
10 to 20 minutesYour prescription, explained
You get the numbers, what they mean, and an honest view on whether you need new spectacles at all.
Same visitGot a prescription or a question about your own eyes? Send it to us on WhatsApp and we will reply with a plain answer.
Optician, optometrist, ophthalmologist: who does what
Three different jobs share the word eye, which is why people search for an eye specialist when what they need is a new pair of spectacles, and the other way round.
| What they do | Go to them for | |
|---|---|---|
| Optician | Measures your eyes for spectacles, advises on lenses and frames, makes and fits the pair, repairs it | New spectacles, lens choices, fitting and repairs |
| Optometrist | Tests vision and power, checks how the eyes work together, screens for problems and refers | Eye tests and contact lens fitting |
| Ophthalmologist (eye specialist, eye doctor) | A medical doctor with a specialist degree (MS, DO or DNB in ophthalmology). Diagnoses and treats disease, prescribes medicine, operates | Pain, infection, injury, cataract, glaucoma, retina problems, surgery and LASIK |
At Ami Optics we do computerised eye tests and make spectacles and contact lenses. We are not eye doctors, and we do not treat eye disease.
When an eye test is enough
- Distance or reading has become blurry slowly, over months
- You hold your phone further away to read it, and you are over forty
- Your eyes feel tired or you get headaches after screens or reading
- Your spectacles are more than two years old, scratched or broken
- You want contact lenses, a spare pair, sunglasses with power or progressive lenses
- A school eye check has asked you to get your child's eyes tested
An eye test at the shop takes 15 to 30 minutes and costs ₹150, complimentary if you buy your spectacles from us. If something in the test looks like more than a power change, we tell you on the spot and suggest a doctor.
When you need an eye specialist
Some situations need a doctor's examination even when you see well, because the problems they look for are painless until late:
- Diabetes: a dilated retina examination every year.
- Glaucoma in a parent, brother or sister, or you are over forty: an eye pressure and nerve check.
- Glare and fading colours that new spectacles do not fix: possibly a cataract.
- A squint, a turned eye or a lazy eye in a child: a paediatric ophthalmologist, as early as possible.
- High minus power, or straight lines that look wavy or bent: a retina check.
Finding an eye specialist in Virar
Virar East and Virar West both have eye hospitals and ophthalmologists' clinics, as do Nalasopara and Vasai. When you choose one, check that the doctor holds an ophthalmology degree (MS, DO or DNB), and for anything urgent go the same day rather than waiting for an appointment slot.
If an eye hospital gives you a spectacle prescription, you can bring it to any optician to have the pair made. We make spectacles from prescriptions written by eye hospitals and other opticians; if yours is more than a year old, we may suggest a quick re-check first.
Computerised eye testing
What happens in the test, what it costs, and how to read your prescription.
Read moreSigns you need an eye test
Headaches, screen blur, night driving: the everyday signs that your power has changed.
Read moreHow often to get your eyes tested
By age, and the situations that call for a sooner check.
Read more
Questions people ask
Do I need an eye specialist to get spectacles?
No. For most people with gradual blur or reading trouble, an eye test at an optician gives the prescription, and the spectacles are made from it. You need a specialist when there is pain, redness, sudden change, or a condition such as diabetes, glaucoma or cataract to examine.
Is an optometrist an eye doctor?
No. An optometrist is trained to test vision and power and to spot signs of problems, but is not a medical doctor. An ophthalmologist is the eye doctor: a medical graduate with a specialist degree who diagnoses and treats disease and performs surgery.
Can an optician detect eye disease?
An eye test can show signs that something is wrong, such as vision that will not improve with lenses, and a good optician will send you to a doctor when it does. It is not a medical examination, and it does not replace one if you have diabetes, glaucoma in the family, or symptoms such as pain or sudden blur.
What is the difference between an eye test and an eye check-up at a hospital?
An eye test measures how well you see and what power you need. A hospital eye check-up by an ophthalmologist also examines the health of the eye, often with drops to widen the pupil, and looks for cataract, glaucoma and retina problems. Many people need the first every one to two years and the second only when there is a reason.
Which eye specialist should I see for my child?
For a squint, a turned or lazy eye, a baby or toddler, or a child who fails a school eye check and does not improve with spectacles, a paediatric ophthalmologist. For a school-age child who simply struggles with the board or reading, an eye test is a good first step.
How much does an eye test cost at Ami Optics, Virar?
₹150 for a computerised eye test, complimentary if you buy your spectacles from us. It takes 15 to 30 minutes and walk-ins are welcome every day except Friday.
Not sure what applies to you? Ask us. A computerised eye test at the shop takes about 15 to 30 minutes, and we explain what we find in plain language.
This guide is general information from an optician, not medical advice. Sudden changes in vision, pain, flashes or a curtain over part of your sight need an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) straight away.
Find us
Near Sai Baba Mandir, at Jivdani Chowk.
Reading is a good start. A test is better. Walk in for a computerised eye test; no appointment is needed.
Address
Ami OpticsShop No. 1, Mohan Apt., V. S. Marg
Near Sai Baba Mandir, Opp. Radha Krishna Restaurant
Virar (E), Maharashtra 401305
Hours
Mon–Thu, Sat–Sun · 9:30 am – 9:30 pm
Friday · closed
Customers come to us from Virar East, Virar West, Nalasopara and Vasai. Look for the shop opposite Radha Krishna Restaurant, near Sai Baba Mandir, at Jivdani Chowk. Landmarks and a map are on the visit us page. We speak English, हिंदी and मराठी.
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Headaches, screen blur, night driving: the everyday signs that your power has changed.
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Let's help you see the world clearly.
Walk in for an eye test, browse the frames, or just say hello on WhatsApp. We'd love to meet you.