When you go to your eye doctor, are you seeing an optician, an optometrist, or an ophthalmologist? For most people, an “eye doctor” is an “eye doctor,” but there are some marked differences depending on the type of eye doctor that you’re seeing. Here’s what you need to know.
The Different Types of Eye Specialist
There are three major types of eye specialist:
- Optician. An individual who has been trained in the fitting of contact lenses, eyeglasses, and frames. These professionals are unable to write prescriptions; instead, they usually go off of the prescription provided by a doctor.
- Optometrist. A medically trained individual who has completed a Doctor of Optometry degree as well as four years in an Optometry school. This individual will perform vision tests, write prescriptions, and diagnose potential vision issues, but they are not a medical doctor.
- Ophthalmologist. A trained medical doctor who has specialized in the treatment of eye diseases, surgeries, and other vision-related issues. While an optometrist is a Doctor of Optometry, they are not a medical doctor; an ophthalmologist is.
As you can see, these differences are significant, and in many situations you may need one or the other.
When Would You Need an Ophthalmologist?
An ophthalmologist frequently works in the same clinic as optometrists and opticians. In general, you would see an ophthalmologist whenever you have problems with your eyes, though some ophthalmologists do complete regular vision checks and corrective prescriptions as well.
If you have a suspected issue with your eye, such as physical damage or an infection, you would need to see an ophthalmologist rather than an optician or an optometrist.
