Appendix F: International standard classification of eye health professionals¹⁶¹

Health cadre	Responsibilities	Training
Ophthalmologists	Diagnose, treat (medically and surgically), and prevent eye diseases, ailments and injury, using specialised procedures and techniques, applying principles of modern medicine to deliver comprehensive eye care. May also diagnose general diseases of the body and treat ocular manifestations of systemic diseases.	Medical practitioner with at least 7 years of medical study and who has had specialised post-graduate training in ophthalmology. Ophthalmologists may further train in subspecialities.
Optometrists	Provide comprehensive eye and vision care, which includes refraction and dispensing, detection or diagnosis, and management of disease in the eye, and the rehabilitation of conditions of the visual system.	At a minimum, has completed a bachelor’s degree and is licensed or registered. Optometrists are not medical doctors.
Mid-level eye care workers	Heterogeneous group of staff with specialist ophthalmic training, but who can perform fewer competencies than an optometrist. Diagnose and treat eye illnesses and refer patients with conditions beyond their scope of practice.	Wide range of training varying across countries.

WHO Regional Office for Africa. Core competencies for the eye health workforce in the WHO African region. WHO; 2019.↩︎

Appendix F: International standard classification of eye health professionals161