The difference between optometrist, ophthalmologist and optician??
Answers: An optician is trained (and in some states licensed and certified) to aid in the selection and fitting of eyewear. In some states, an optician can also obtain a license to fit contact lenses. An optician is not qualified to handle medical eye problems, although the optician or an optometric technician may be the party who does initial testing/measurements that the doctor will use in the examination.
An optometrist has an undergraduate degree heavy in math and science...then he applies to optometry school where he spends 4 years studying optics, structures of the eye, and treatment of eye disease. The optometrist is the primary care physician in the optical world. He is qualified to treat conditions of the eye that do not need surgical intervention. Contrary to popular opinion, you do not need to go to an MD for pink eye, glaucoma, amblyopia, or for life after you've had cataract surgery. If you need an specialist, your optometrist will happily refer you to one.
An ophthalmologist has an undergraduate degree heavy in math and science, goes to medical school, earns his M.D. (learns to do everything from deliver babies to diagnosis appendicitis), then does a residency in ophthalmology, where he specializes in treatment of the eye. While some ophthalmologists actually do refractive (prescribing eyeglasses) work, in many cases if you call an ophthalmology practice, they are going to have you first see an optometrist working in their office. The ophthalmologist is the only one of the three who is qualified to cut into your eye.
MD is medical doctor.
An opthamologist is a medical doctor who is board certified in treatment and diseases of the eye.
An optometrist is a Doctor of Optometry, but not an MD
An optician is a technician who assists in the fitting of corrective eye wear.
Optometrist - Measures your eyesight, prescribes lenses etc.
Optician - Grinds lenses.
Ophthalmologist - Eye doctor. MD as in if you get an infection or need eye surgery.
an optometrist is s regular physician: performs eye exams, writes prescriptions basic stuff like that.
An opthalmologist is an eye specialist. They do the same stuff as an optometrist does, but they prescribe medications for specific eye illnesses and diseases. If a patient has a problem with their eye that basic treatment wont fix, they are referred to an opthalmologist.
An optician makes glasses and contacts.
Great way to put it Browneyedgirl!
I'm just going to add a bit to the Ophthalmologist.
I work for a group of ophthalmologists. We are a referral clinic...most of our patients have seen an optometrist on the outside prior to coming to us. Ophthalmologists typically focus on one part of the eye, some focus on a particular disease.
We have retinal specialists, neuro-ophthalmologist, pediatric/strabismus, glaucoma, cornea and refractive surgery, uveitis/retinitis/iritis, molecular and hereditary ocular disease, ocular plastic surgery. We have a couple of general ophthalmologists who do exams for diabetics, cataract surgery, and as triage for patients who are self referred.
In the clinic I work for, we do not have an optometrist or optician on staff...just the subspecialties. Very interesting. I've learned a lot working there, just as I have from the optometrists who post. I do not see those general well eye exams. Most of what I see is surgical planning and followup. Still real neat :)
An optometrist has an undergraduate degree heavy in math and science...then he applies to optometry school where he spends 4 years studying optics, structures of the eye, and treatment of eye disease. The optometrist is the primary care physician in the optical world. He is qualified to treat conditions of the eye that do not need surgical intervention. Contrary to popular opinion, you do not need to go to an MD for pink eye, glaucoma, amblyopia, or for life after you've had cataract surgery. If you need an specialist, your optometrist will happily refer you to one.
An ophthalmologist has an undergraduate degree heavy in math and science, goes to medical school, earns his M.D. (learns to do everything from deliver babies to diagnosis appendicitis), then does a residency in ophthalmology, where he specializes in treatment of the eye. While some ophthalmologists actually do refractive (prescribing eyeglasses) work, in many cases if you call an ophthalmology practice, they are going to have you first see an optometrist working in their office. The ophthalmologist is the only one of the three who is qualified to cut into your eye.
MD is medical doctor.
An opthamologist is a medical doctor who is board certified in treatment and diseases of the eye.
An optometrist is a Doctor of Optometry, but not an MD
An optician is a technician who assists in the fitting of corrective eye wear.
Optometrist - Measures your eyesight, prescribes lenses etc.
Optician - Grinds lenses.
Ophthalmologist - Eye doctor. MD as in if you get an infection or need eye surgery.
an optometrist is s regular physician: performs eye exams, writes prescriptions basic stuff like that.
An opthalmologist is an eye specialist. They do the same stuff as an optometrist does, but they prescribe medications for specific eye illnesses and diseases. If a patient has a problem with their eye that basic treatment wont fix, they are referred to an opthalmologist.
An optician makes glasses and contacts.
Great way to put it Browneyedgirl!
I'm just going to add a bit to the Ophthalmologist.
I work for a group of ophthalmologists. We are a referral clinic...most of our patients have seen an optometrist on the outside prior to coming to us. Ophthalmologists typically focus on one part of the eye, some focus on a particular disease.
We have retinal specialists, neuro-ophthalmologist, pediatric/strabismus, glaucoma, cornea and refractive surgery, uveitis/retinitis/iritis, molecular and hereditary ocular disease, ocular plastic surgery. We have a couple of general ophthalmologists who do exams for diabetics, cataract surgery, and as triage for patients who are self referred.
In the clinic I work for, we do not have an optometrist or optician on staff...just the subspecialties. Very interesting. I've learned a lot working there, just as I have from the optometrists who post. I do not see those general well eye exams. Most of what I see is surgical planning and followup. Still real neat :)
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