What are the differences between optometrists, ophthalmologists, and MDs?!


Question: MY GOODNESS! I think Myopia Cure Promoter needs to get out more often. Much of the information you have been given here is simply not true. And surprisingly, one of your answerers was an optometrist. Some optometrists are not qualified to perform surgery and choose not to pursue this type of practice.

Here is the truth.

Optometric physicians (optometrists) are REAL DOCTORS. They have been trained at optometry schools and receive a doctorate of optometry upon graduation. The degree is an OD. Ophthalmologists are REAL DOCTORS. They have been trained at a medical school, receive a doctorate in medicine, and upon graduation specialize in the field of opthalmologiy. The degree is an MD.

Some of your answerers have said that essentially the difference is that optometrists don't do surgery and ophthalmologists do. Well that just isn't so. I am an optometric physician (optometrist) and I REGULARLY perform surgical procedures in my office, am legally licensed by my state to do so, and am reimbursed for these surgical procedures by medical insurance companies including Medicare.

The reason there is so much confusion is that even though all optometric physicians are trained in optometry school to perform these surgical procedures, not every state recognizes their training and licenses them to perform these surgeries. Over the last several years, though, state after state has begun to realize how well trained optometrists are and are therefore passing legislation to allow optometrists to practice to the full extent of their training. Of course, there are several ocular surgical procedures for which I am not licensed because simply I am not educated nor qualified to perform these surgeries. And my state board will not allow me to perform these surgeries. But for many diseases of the eye, (in states that recognize optometric surgery) optometrist's and ophthalmologist's abilities overlap.

I regularly (and have been doing so for about 18 years) perform Yag laser capsulotomy (a surgical procedure), anterior foreign body removal (a surgical procedure), anterior corneal stromal puncture (a surgical procedure) to name a few. I also regularly diagnose and treat ocular diseases such as corneal ulcers, bacterial and viral infections, iritis, keratitis, and glaucoma, to name just a few.

Now there is a good chance that if an opthalmologist sees what I have written, you are going to see a pretty emotionally charged response to my position. There has been for several years a pretty heated battle going on between the two professions. Some (but thankfully not all) opthalmologists believe that unless a person is educated in a medical school they do not have the intelligence nor skills to diagnose and treat diseases of the eye and perform surgery. But when a non biased open minded group of men in state legislative bodies around our country are provided the FACTS about the education and capabiltity of optometric physicians they are increasingly and overwhelmingly granting optometric physicians the LEGAL RIGHT to do what we have been trained to do.

So no matter what you may have heard, optometrists are REAL doctors who treat REAL patients with REAL diseases with REAL surgical instruments. And by the way, we do a REAL GOOD JOB of it.


Answers: MY GOODNESS! I think Myopia Cure Promoter needs to get out more often. Much of the information you have been given here is simply not true. And surprisingly, one of your answerers was an optometrist. Some optometrists are not qualified to perform surgery and choose not to pursue this type of practice.

Here is the truth.

Optometric physicians (optometrists) are REAL DOCTORS. They have been trained at optometry schools and receive a doctorate of optometry upon graduation. The degree is an OD. Ophthalmologists are REAL DOCTORS. They have been trained at a medical school, receive a doctorate in medicine, and upon graduation specialize in the field of opthalmologiy. The degree is an MD.

Some of your answerers have said that essentially the difference is that optometrists don't do surgery and ophthalmologists do. Well that just isn't so. I am an optometric physician (optometrist) and I REGULARLY perform surgical procedures in my office, am legally licensed by my state to do so, and am reimbursed for these surgical procedures by medical insurance companies including Medicare.

The reason there is so much confusion is that even though all optometric physicians are trained in optometry school to perform these surgical procedures, not every state recognizes their training and licenses them to perform these surgeries. Over the last several years, though, state after state has begun to realize how well trained optometrists are and are therefore passing legislation to allow optometrists to practice to the full extent of their training. Of course, there are several ocular surgical procedures for which I am not licensed because simply I am not educated nor qualified to perform these surgeries. And my state board will not allow me to perform these surgeries. But for many diseases of the eye, (in states that recognize optometric surgery) optometrist's and ophthalmologist's abilities overlap.

I regularly (and have been doing so for about 18 years) perform Yag laser capsulotomy (a surgical procedure), anterior foreign body removal (a surgical procedure), anterior corneal stromal puncture (a surgical procedure) to name a few. I also regularly diagnose and treat ocular diseases such as corneal ulcers, bacterial and viral infections, iritis, keratitis, and glaucoma, to name just a few.

Now there is a good chance that if an opthalmologist sees what I have written, you are going to see a pretty emotionally charged response to my position. There has been for several years a pretty heated battle going on between the two professions. Some (but thankfully not all) opthalmologists believe that unless a person is educated in a medical school they do not have the intelligence nor skills to diagnose and treat diseases of the eye and perform surgery. But when a non biased open minded group of men in state legislative bodies around our country are provided the FACTS about the education and capabiltity of optometric physicians they are increasingly and overwhelmingly granting optometric physicians the LEGAL RIGHT to do what we have been trained to do.

So no matter what you may have heard, optometrists are REAL doctors who treat REAL patients with REAL diseases with REAL surgical instruments. And by the way, we do a REAL GOOD JOB of it.

ophthalmologists are MD's who are specially trained to treat the eye. Optometrists fit eyewear and screen for illness of the eye.

ophthalmologists are also surgeons

Optometrists can diagnose and treat almost anything wrong with eye that doesn't require surgery. Surgery is what the ophthalmologists do.

MDs are medical doctors, Doctor of Medicine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_Doc...

Ophthalmologists are eye doctors who also perform operations or surgery on eyes.

"Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine which deals with the diseases and surgery of the visual pathways, including the eye, brain, and areas surrounding the eye, such as the lacrimal system and eyelids. The word ophthalmology comes from the Greek roots ophthalmos meaning eye and logos meaning word, thought or discourse; ophthalmology literally means "The science of eyes." As a discipline it applies to animal eyes also, since the differences from human practice are surprisingly minor and are related mainly to differences in anatomy or prevalence, not differences in disease processes. However, veterinary medicine is regulated separately in many countries and states/provinces resulting in few ophthalmologists treating both humans and animals. By convention the term ophthalmologist is more restricted and implies a medically trained specialist. Since ophthalmologists perform operations on eyes, they are generally categorized as physicians and surgeons."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophthalmolo...

"Optometrists can diagnose and treat almost anything wrong with eye that doesn't require surgery. "

Can optometrists prevent myopia (Nearsightedness)?
Nope.

Can optometrists control myopia?
Nope.

Can optometrists reduce myopia?
Nope.

Can optometrists cure myopia?
Nope.

Can optometrists fit you with a pair of eyeglasses?
Yes.

Optometrists are Eyeglass Fitters

In reality,
Is it possible to prevent myopia (Nearsightedness)?
YES.

Is it possible to control myopia?
YES.

Is it possible to reduce myopia?
YES.

Is it possible to cure myopia?
YES, if it is not too severe.

Comparison between Conventional Optometry and Proper Eye Care
http://www.geocities.com/myopiacure/comp...

Optical Industry, Optometry Schools, Optometrists, Eye Doctors
Don't Promote Proper Eye Care, Proper Treatment, Myopia Prevention and Myopia Cure because of Business as Usual.

WARNING: Prescription Glasses Have Side Effects --
Worsen Children's Nearsightedness

The Side Effects of Prescription Glasses (Graph)
http://www.geocities.com/myopiacure/Side...

The Side Effects of Prescription Glasses - Profusely Illustrated
http://www.geocities.com/myopiacure/Side...

Children CANNOT tolerate the SIDE EFFECTS of the prescription glasses, which cause their nearsightedness to get worse. (This also applies to adults whose nearsightedness still gets worse.)

International Myopia Prevention Association (IMPA) have filed a Petition at the FDA requesting enforcement action to require eye care professionals to issue written warnings to parents that distance glasses worsen myopia in children.
The failure to advise parents that myopia can be reduced or prevented constitutes unlawful misbranding.
http://www.preventmyopia.org/fdapetition...

Children's (and adults') myopia will NOT get worse IF they are treated properly.

Successful Cases:
http://www.geocities.com/myopiacure/Succ...

You can also read a paper about Dr. Orfield, an optometrist, who successfully improved her vision here:
http://www.optometrists.org/Boston/artic...




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