Opticians
Opticians are professionals who have received one to two years of training in vision aid. They specialize in fulfilling lens prescription and repairing existing frames. Typically, opticians will work in an optometry practice and assist patients with the selection and maintenance of glasses.
Optometrists
Optometrists, also known as Doctors of Optometry (O.D.), have usually completed a pre-medical curriculum at an undergraduate college, fours years of professional education at a college of optometry, and a year of residency focused on specialization in areas such as low vision or pediatrics. They provide primary eye care services such as vision examination, disease diagnostics and basic treatment, and perform minor surgical procedures such as removal of foreign bodies in the eye.
Ophthalmologists
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (M.D.) who specialize in eye and vision care. After medical school, they usually receive one year of surgical training followed by three years or more of professional development in a hospital’s eye residency program and one year of a sub-specialty fellowship. In total, ophthalmologists will typically undergo at least 12 years training beyond high school. Their extensive education qualifies them to diagnose and treat complex eye disease and perform delicate surgeries. Ophthalmologists can specialize in areas such as ophthalmic plastic surgery and neuro-ophthalmology.
Who should I see?
Since there is much overlap in the kinds of services provided by optometrists and ophthalmologists, many patients chose one or the other based on personal preference and/or availability. Occasionally, patients might benefit from the utilizing the services of both an optometrist and an ophthalmologists. Ophthalmologists are usually qualified to perform the functions of an optometrist, but might not have as much practice in providing the more mundane services such as vision correction exams. Optometrists, on the other hand, are usually not qualified to treat and manage long term, complex vision issues such as those involving the cornea, sclera, or conjunctiva. In fact, many eye clinics will have both optometrists and ophthalmologists on staff and each will often refer patients to the other.
For more details on when it might be time to visit the eye doctor, you can check out our posts here and here. Check us out on Facebook and Twitter for more tips and information!
