How Does an Optometrist Differ From an Ophthalmologist?

If you need to visit an eye specialist, you need to decide whether to see an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. These are two types of doctors who deal with the eyes, but there are some differences between the disciplines. 

Most people are not sure about the differences between the two. Both optometrists and ophthalmologists play a different but vital role in eye care. Their expertise and training are not the same, but often, they work together as a team.

Who Is an Optometrist? 

An optometrist provides vision care from testing the sight to offering correction treatment. The eye care professional is involved in diagnosing, treating, and managing vision changes. Optometrists are not medical doctors. However, they obtain a doctor of optometry (O.D.) degree after four years of training. 

This training comes after three years of college. These specialists have a license to practice optometry. Optometry involves: 

 

• Conducting eye exams and vision tests. 
   

• Prescribing and dispensing corrective lenses. 
   

• Detecting eye abnormalities.
   

• Prescribing medications for some eye conditions.
   

Who Is an Ophthalmologist? 

An ophthalmologist is a doctor who specializes in vision and eye care. As medical doctors, ophthalmologists differ from optometrists in the level of training. They also differ in the issues they are trained to diagnose and treat. 

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who has completed medical training. This professional can practice medicine and perform surgery. Ophthalmologists can diagnose and treat all types of eye diseases. They can perform eye surgery, and they also prescribe eyeglasses and fit contact lenses to fix vision problems. 

Optometrist – Services Provided

Optometrists are responsible for the primary health of the eyes. They perform vision tests and eye exams. They prescribe and fit corrective eyeglasses and contact lenses. They also treat and manage conditions like glaucoma and dry eye and monitor eye conditions related to health conditions. An optometrist can also provide vision therapy and low-vision aids.

Ophthalmologist - Services Provided

Ophthalmologists offer complete eye care services, including vision services and medical eye care. They offer: 

 

• Care for conditions such as iritis, glaucoma, and chemical burns. 
   

• Surgical eye care for crossed eyes, trauma, glaucoma, cataracts, and other issues. 
   

• Diagnosis and treatment for eye conditions related to diabetes and arthritis. 
   

• Plastic surgery to smooth out wrinkles or raise drooping eyelids.

Specialized Eye Care

Some ophthalmologists specialize in specific areas of eye care. They receive extra, in-depth training in surgical or medical eye care. These subspecialists focus on a particular area such as pediatrics, retina, glaucoma, cornea, and others. 

The additional training and knowledge allow the specialist to deal with more specific or complex eye issues. The training may prepare the specialist to deal with a specific group of people such as children.

Your vision and eye health will depend on visiting the right eye specialist. It is important to find out the difference between optometrists and ophthalmologists. This will help you determine exactly what you need for your specific eye condition.

For more on optometrists and ophthalmologists, visit Perceptions Eye Health & Wellness. Our office is in Southport, North Carolina. You can call (910) 400-1215 today to schedule an appointment.