Eye Doctors: Optometrists and Ophthalmologists

There are two main types of eye doctors, and the difference between "optometrist" and "ophthalmologist" is more than just their different spellings. It’s not surprising that many people aren’t sure which is which. Read on to find out what each of these eye health professionals does and the differences between them.

Ophthalmologist: Total Eye Care

Ophthalmologists are physicians – doctors of medicine (MDs) or doctors of osteopathy (DOs). MDs and DOs complete four or more years of college premedical education, four years of medical school, and one year of internship to get their doctorate degrees.

After they become licensed physicians, they undergo a residency of three or more years. This consists of medical and surgical specialty training specifically in eye care.

Ophthalmologists provide complete eye care services.  These include:

• Vision services, including eye exams
• Medical eye care – for glaucoma, iritis, chemical burns, orbital cellulites, etc.
• Surgical eye care – for trauma, crossed eyes, cataracts, glaucoma, tumors, etc.
• Diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions related to other diseases, like diabetes (diabetic retinopathy), arthritis (iritis) or brain conditions (multiple sclerosis/optic neuritis)
• Eye disease and injury preventive services
• Plastic surgery – some ophthalmologists offer this service for drooping eyelids or skin tumors, or for smoothing wrinkles and improving skin tone around the eyes

Optometrist (OD): Vision Care and Eye Care Services

Optometrists are trained to diagnose and treat vision conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. They are trained in prescribing eyeglasses, contact lenses, eye exercises, low vision aids, and vision therapy.

They are also trained to identify cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal disease, and to use some medications to treat eye disease.

Optometrists do not attend medical school. Most complete an undergraduate degree before beginning four years of training for an optometry (OD) degree.

Some complete a postgraduate one-year clinical residency to gain specialist certification.

The services optometrists provide include:

• Vision services such as eye examinations, and treatment of conditions such as amblyopia and strabismus
• Diagnosing eye conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and conjunctivitis
• Prescribing medications for certain eye conditions (in some states)
• Eye disease and injury-prevention services
• Prescribing and fitting glasses and contact lenses

Optometrists may also take part in pre- and postoperative care for patients having eye surgery.

Optometrists and ophthalmologists sometimes work in the same office and co-manage patients.

So ... What’s an Optician?

And what about opticians? Knowing the difference between optometrist and ophthalmologist can’t help you here.

But despite having a similar name, opticians (also called dispensing opticians) stand out from eye doctors in an important way: They fill the lens prescriptions that ophthalmologists and optometrists write.

Opticians:

• Evaluate lens prescriptions written by ophthalmologists and optometrists
• Dispense, adjust, repair, and replace glasses, eyeglass frames, and contact lenses
• Take facial measurements
• Help decide which form of lens best fits a patient’s needs
• Take charge of ordering and checking eye-related products, including contact and eyeglass lenses

Opticians obtain a one- or two-year technical degree, certificate, or diploma. They must be certified in the state where they practice.