Optometrist

Name: Optometrist
Author: Tater Certified

Optometrist lets server owners change the render distance each player sees, instead of one value for everyone on the server.

FabricForgeNeoForgeQuiltServer-side onlyMIT LicenseOpen source1.21.11 – 26.3

What it does

Optometrist is a server-side mod for cross-platform render distance control. Servers can set how far each player can see, and the value is applied when a player joins. The mod uses the default view distance gamerule, which is applied to a player as soon as they connect, so a server can give different players different view distances without changing the world for everyone else.

Installation is done by placing the Ignite jar in the mods folder alongside the server jar, then restarting the server. Ignite is required so the mod can run on Spigot and Paper forks. Optometrist is published for Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt, and as a server plugin for Paper, Spigot, Purpur, Folia and Sponge. The mod runs on the server alone, so players join without installing anything. Files cover game versions 1.21.11 – 26.3 and are released under the MIT License as open source code.

Key features

Per-player render distance
The server can give each player a render distance value that applies from the moment they join.
Default view distance gamerule
The mod uses the default view distance gamerule as the starting value for players who connect.
Spigot and Paper support
Ignite lets the mod run on Spigot and Paper forks alongside the server plugin jar.

Compatibility

Latest build for each game version and loader.

Version

26.3mc26.1-1.0.0mc26.1-1.0.0mc26.1-1.0.0mc26.1-1.0.0

26.2mc26.1-1.0.0mc26.1-1.0.0mc26.1-1.0.0mc26.1-1.0.0

26.1.2mc26.1-1.0.0mc26.1-1.0.0mc26.1-1.0.0mc26.1-1.0.0

26.1.1mc26.1-1.0.0mc26.1-1.0.0mc26.1-1.0.0mc26.1-1.0.0

26.1mc26.1-1.0.0mc26.1-1.0.0mc26.1-1.0.0mc26.1-1.0.0

1.21.11mc1.21.11-1.0.2mc1.21.11-1.0.2mc1.21.11-1.0.2mc1.21.11-1.0.2

ReleaseBetaAlphaNot available

Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.

Use cases

Who it’s for: Server owners and administrators who want to set render distance for individual players rather than one value for the whole server.

How it compares

Full comparison

ChunkCarts is open source under the GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 only and is published for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge across 1.21 – 26.2. Optometrist is open source under the MIT License and covers Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt. player_shops is needed on the server, with the client optional, and is published for Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt under All rights reserved, which makes it a different kind of tool from a render distance control.

Mod	Loaders	Game versions	Environment	Updated
Optometrist	Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt	1.21.11 – 26.3	Server-side only	2026-06-15
ChunkCarts	Fabric, Forge and NeoForge	1.21 – 26.2	Not published	2026-07-27
player_shops	Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt	1.20 – 26.1.2	Server required, client optional	2026-07-07

Questions

Does Optometrist need to be installed on the client?

No. It runs on the server alone, so players need nothing extra to join.

Does Optometrist require Ignite on Spigot or Paper?

Yes. Ignite must be placed in the mods folder alongside the server jar, and the server must be restarted after installing it.

Which game versions does Optometrist support?

Files exist for 1.21.11, 26.1, 26.1.1, 26.1.2, 26.2 and 26.3, with 1.21.11 the latest file for each loader.

Can Optometrist run on Folia or Sponge?

Yes. It is available as a server plugin for Paper, Spigot, Purpur, Folia and Sponge, in addition to the mod loader builds.

In the catalog

Optometrist is one of 8,016 Management mods on ModsFinder, and one of 5,930 Management mods for Fabric. 8,071 mods support Minecraft 26.3.