Opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists are all eye care professionals who play crucial roles in keeping your eyes healthy and functioning optimally. But they all differ in roles and possess different levels of training and expertise. In this post, we take a quick look at the different types of eye care professionals.
Optician
An optician is an eye care technician who has been trained to design, verify and fit eyeglass lenses and frames, contact lenses and other visual aid devices. These eye care professionals do not write prescriptions, nor do they diagnose or treat eye diseases. Rather, they work with prescriptions from the opthalmologist or optometrist to produce visual aids for patients, as appropriate.
Optometrist
An optometrist is a primary eyecare professional who provides services such as vision testing, diagnosis, treatment and management of visual problems. They carry out eye examinations, prescribe and administer corrective lenses, detect some visual abnormalities and prescribe drugs for certain eye conditions. Although an optometrist receives a Doctor of Optometry (O.D) degree after completion of their training, note that an optometrist is not a medical doctor.
Ophthalmologist
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in eye and vision care. An ophthalmologist studied Medicine and Surgery in the University and has gone ahead to complete at least an additional 5 years (could be more in other countries) of specialist training to manage eye conditions both medically and surgically. They diagnose and treat all types of eye diseases, perform eye surgeries and prescribe eyeglasses to correct various visual problems. Ophthalmologists also carry out research to contribute to knowledge about eye diseases and their treatments.
Who Should You See?
For many concerns relating to vision, an optometrist can provide primary care and refer you to an ophthalmologist, if necessary. However, when you are uncertain, your family doctor or general practitioner will always guide and refer you to the eyecare professional that you need.
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