There are so many titles for different eye care professionals and what they offer. You must understand the difference between the main eye care professionals, optometrists, and ophthalmologists. While one provides general eye care, the other helps you when it comes to medical and surgical procedures.
What is an Optometrist?
An optometrist examines your eyes, diagnoses any problems with your vision, and prescribes you contacts or glasses. These healthcare professionals have done a four-year program after college to get a doctorate in optometry. Optometrists can also have clinical training and fellowships after their optometry degree to get specializations.
What Can an Optometrist Do?
There are many roles that an optometrist can do when it comes to primary eye care, which includes eye exams and vision tests, fitting and prescribing glasses and contact lenses, finding diseases and injuries of the eyes. Additionally, optometrists can treat near and farsightedness, as well as astigmatism.
What is an Ophthalmologist?
Ophthalmologists can perform medical and surgical eye care. These healthcare professionals have gone to medical school, a one-year internship after, and a three-year residency. They usually diagnose and treat eye conditions that stem from other conditions, as well as the things performed by optometrists.
What Can an Ophthalmologist Do?
An ophthalmologist can perform many services, including vision services, like eye exams, medical eye care, like glaucoma, iritis, chemical burns, and surgical eye care, like trauma, crossed eyes, cataracts, and other issues. Additionally, these healthcare professionals can perform plastic surgery to smooth wrinkles or raise eyelids. Lastly, ophthalmologists diagnose and treat eye conditions related to other diseases, such as diabetes and arthritis.
What is an Optician?
These professionals cannot give eye exams. They usually get a one or two-year certificate, degree, or diploma, and can fill a prescription for your contacts and glasses. Additionally, opticians can check your lens prescriptions, adjust and repair glasses, frames, and contacts, take measurements of your face, decide which lenses and frames work for you, and order or check eye care products.
How Do You Choose the Right Doctor?
When choosing your eye doctor, one type is not better than the other. It depends on what you need, at the end of the day. A good way to start is with an optometrist. They can help you with general eye care and recommend you to an ophthalmologist if needed. However, if you need eye surgery, an ophthalmologist is the one that will help you the most.
If you are looking for a good eye doctor, Look Optometry can help you. We are Surrey’s number one optometrist clinic, with a team of doctors who have years of expert experience. We proudly provide great service and individualized eye care. Additionally, Look Optometry provides you with a modern and innovative clinic for the best diagnosis and treatment of any eye issues you may have. Additionally, we provide convenient paperless payment through medical insurance.