Ophthalmic Opticians (also known as optometrists) examine your eyes to diagnose vision problems and eye diseases. They use instruments and observation to examine eye health and to test patients' visual acuity, depth and colour perception and your ability to focus and co-ordinate your eyes. Ophthalmic opticians (optometrists) are qualified to prescribe spectacles and contact lenses.

Dispensing opticians recommend and dispense spectacle frames, lenses, contact lenses, etc., having considered your prescription, your occupation, lifestyle, hobbies, etc. A dispensing optician cannot prescribe prescription spectacles or contact lenses for you, instead he or she dispenses and recommends spectacles and contact lenses that would be most suitable for you, given your lifestyle.

In Ireland Optical or ophthalmic services provided through the public health service are only free of charge to certain people.

Free Optical Treatment is given to:

• Medical card holders and their dependants
• People with Hepatitis C who contracted the disease through the use of Human Immunoglobulin-Anti-D or from the receipt within Ireland of any blood product or a blood transfusion and who have a Health Amendment Act Card
• Pre-school children and national school children referred from child health service and school health service examinations.
  

Vision tests and standard prescription spectacles (where required for medical rather than cosmetic reasons) are free of charge to the groups listed above.

Children who are discovered to have sight problems at child or school health examinations are referred to the appropriate consultant for treatment. If this treatment is carried out at the out-patient department of a public hospital, the service is free and no hospital charges have to be paid.

Treatment Benefit Scheme
Treatment Benefit is a scheme in Ireland operated by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Under this scheme, contributions made by people to the national social insurance fund are paid back to fund the cost of certain health benefits. These health benefits are Dental Benefit, Optical Benefit, Contact Lenses, and Hearing Aids.

If you are not among the qualifying groups, the Treatment Benefit Scheme will cover you and your dependent spouse (provided you have enough social insurance contributions) for certain free optical services. If you do not have enough social insurance contributions, you may have to pay for these services.

You may be able to claim tax relief for medical expenses that are incurred by your spouse (and certain other relatives) as a result of specific optical treatments. These optical treatments must be prescribed by your practitioner.