Ophthalmologist vs Optometrist

When it comes to properly taking care of our eyes who should we see an ophthalmologist or an optometrist? What is an ophthalmologist and what exactly is the difference between the two? At Eye Care Specialist of Florida, our ophthalmologist will care not just for your eyes, but your overall eye health, but let’s first learn the difference between the two.

Optometrist

Let’s talk about an optometrist first. Most of us are familiar with one. They are your eye doctor, right? Wrong! An optometrist is O.D.’s which stands for Doctor of Optometry, not M.D.’s. Their training includes a pre-professional undergraduate college education completed with 4 more years of education, which is then followed by a state test to become an official optometrist. The duties of an optometrist are:

• To perform eye exams

• Conduct vision tests

• Prescribe glasses/contact lenses

• Prescribe medication for only minor types of eye diseases

• Optometrists cannot perform surgery.

Ophthalmologist

Unlike an optometrist, an ophthalmologist is an actual doctor M.D. who happens to specialize in vision and eye care. To become an ophthalmologist, their training includes 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school and a year of internship, along with 3 years in an ophthalmology hospital-based resident. An ophthalmologist can deal with all your eye care concerns. Such as:

• Eye exams

• Prescribe and fit contacts/eyeglass lenses.

• Diagnosis and treat all eye diseases

• Perform eye surgery.

• Treat and correct vision disorders. 

Your Choice

Overall, in the end, it is your choice and depends on your vision care needs which one best suite you. If you need an eye surgeon then an ophthalmologist is your most reliable option. In our Kissimmee location at Eye Care Specialists of Florida, we have the most esteem ophthalmologist on hand to handle all aspects of your eye and vision concerns from dry eye to surgery. Call us at 407-483-0328 to schedule an appointment today!