However, if a sudden change or problem in vision is experienced, an ophthalmologist should be contacted immediately. The black spots people sometimes see in their field of vision are normal. These may signal a torn retina or bleeding within the eye and require emergency care. An optician, optometrist and ophthalmologist all do the same thing for vision care. There are important differences in the services each one performs.
Opticians are technicians who use a doctor's prescription to make corrective lenses.
Optometrists are doctors of optometry who can examine patients and prescribe corrective lenses. In California, they're also able to prescribe limited kinds of medication. Ophthalmologists are medical eye doctors who can examine patients, prescribe corrective lenses, treat diseases of the eye and perform eye surgery. Sitting close to a television set, movie or computer screen can harm your eyes. Your eyes are not harmed by viewing these things at a short distance.