In Australia you need to go to an Optometrist who is not a doctor, they can't prescribe medicines. There are few independent Optoms most are employed by spectacles chains nowadays. They also do retinal scan, check for glaucoma etc. No one pays for Optoms. The government pays for one free eye checkup every 2 years (used to be 1 year). The glasses and frames you have to pay. Ophthalmologists are specialists for eye diseases and needs to be referred by either GP or Optom and costs an arm and a leg. My last visit was $400+