What profession is focused on the diagnosis and treatment of vision defects?

The profession that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of vision defects is the optometrist. Optometrists are healthcare professionals who perform eye examinations, diagnose vision problems, and prescribe corrective lenses such as glasses or contact lenses. They also manage conditions like glaucoma and provide pre- and post-operative care for eye surgeries.

Ophthalmologists, while also involved in eye care, are medical doctors who perform surgery and treat serious eye diseases in addition to prescribing lenses. Opticians primarily focus on fitting and dispensing corrective lenses based on prescriptions from optometrists or ophthalmologists but do not diagnose or treat vision defects themselves. Vision technicians generally assist optometrists and ophthalmologists with various tasks but do not diagnose or treat patients directly. Thus, the primary role of an optometrist is distinctly centered on diagnosing and treating vision defects.