Eye dr. questions

What is the difference between an Opthamologist & an Optometrist?

My eye is sore so I would like to have it looked at.

Thanks

Re: Eye dr. questions

Both types of eye doctors examine and prescribe glasses, diagnose and treat eye disease, and can evaluate how well a person uses the eyes together. However, each profession is unique.

Ophthalmologists are trained to do surgery. Optometrists are schooled in the developmental (behavioral, functional or environmental) aspects of vision. Optometrists are more apt to use lenses, prisms and vision therapy to enhance and improve visual function.

So if your eye hurts you could really go to either.

Re: Eye dr. questions

Wow Thank you!

Re: Eye dr. questions

I prefer an opthamologist, I would rather go to a medical doctor if I have a choice. Also, with my insurance, I only have to pay the copay for the opthamologist, but with the optomotrist, I have to pay, be reimbursed later and it counts towards a yearly limit on eye care.

Re: Eye dr. questions

My sister is an optometrist and the new ones have licenses to prescribe medications for the eye if necessary. My sister is also certified to do some laser surgery in the state she went to school in. I think an opthomalogist is more of a doctor who will treat major diseases of the eye. Both are doctors, the opthamologists go thru a little bit more schooling, my sister went to undergrad, graduate school and 4 years and internships on top of that to become an optometerist. HTH

Re: Eye dr. questions

Ophthalmologists are MD's

Optometrists are OD's (Doctor of Optometry)

I prefer an ophthalmologist over an Optometrist but this is my preference.