The difference between optometrist, ophthalmologist and optician?!
Question:
The difference between optometrist, ophthalmologist and optician?
Additional Details
5 days ago
But timssterling, what is MD? :=)
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.