Eye Exam: Picking an Eye Doctor

If you are interested in buying your first pair of contact lenses, or if the time has come for you to replace your contact lenses, you may be wondering how you should go about selecting the right eye doctor for you.  In this article, we share with you some basic information that you will want to keep in mind when you go about the process of selecting an eye doctor.

Different Types of Eye Doctors

Depending on your specific needs, the answer to how to pick the right eye doctor may vary.  There are several different types of eye doctors and eye specialists that you could go see.  You will need to select from the following, an eye doctor, and eye specialist, an ophthalmologist, an optometrist or an optician.  Each has various skills, training and specialties.

Eye Care Specialists

Eye doctors that specialize in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and visual system are called ophthamologists. They specialize in the prevention of eye disease and injury. They can be either doctors of medicine or doctors of osteopathy. They have completed four years of pre-medical education, four years of medical school, one year of internship, and three or more years of specialized medical and surgical training in eye care.  An ophthalmologist is licensed by a state regulatory board to diagnose, treat and manage conditions affecting the eye and visual system. An ophthalmologist is qualified to deliver total eye care including vision services, eye examinations, medical and surgical eye care, diagnosis and treatment of disease, and visual complications that are caused by other conditions. 

A Look (So To Speak) at Optometrists

Optometrists are eye doctors of optometry (OD) and are trained to examine, diagnose, treat, and manage some diseases and disorders of the eye and visual system. The optometrist has completed pre-professional undergraduate education and four years of professional education at an accredited college of optometry. In addition, some optometrists may have completed a one-year optional residency in a specialized area. Optometrists have not attended medical school. They are trained to examine the internal and external structure of the eyes to detect diseases such as glaucoma, retinal detachment and cataracts.  They do not perform any kind of eye surgery and are not trained in all diseases and disorders of the eyes.  Their specialty is to treat vision conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia.  They also test for the ability to focus and coordinate the eyes and see depth and colors.  Optometrists are licensed by states to examine the eyes to determine the presence of vision problems and visual acuity, prescribe eyeglasses, contact lenses, eye exercises, low vision aids, vision therapy, and medications to treat eye diseases.

Understanding What Opticians Do

Opticians are eye healthcare professionals who work with ophthalmologists and optometrists to provide vision services related to the diagnosis and treatment of vision problems and eye disease. They assist optometrists and ophthalmologists in providing complete patient care before, during, and after exams, procedures and surgeries.  Opticians possess a two-year technical degree.  

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