Doctors and patients have a trusting relationship. That relationship does not extend to opticians. 

In this One Focus, Mark Hinton with eYeFacilitate stresses the need for optometrists to differentiate between 'prescribing' and 'recommending' eyeglass and/or contact lens wear to opticians. Optometrists prescribe with reason. And their patients trust their prescriptions. But if an optometrist makes a recommendation, then the patient will be uncertain and confused when seeing an optician. Patients need your assurance and certainty. Be sure to prescribe, not recommend.