Eye doctors: Optometrists and ophthalmologists

There are two main types of eye specialist, and the difference between "optometrist" and "ophthalmologist" is more than just their different spellings. It's not surprising that many people aren't sure which is which. Read on to find out what each of these eye health professionals does and the differences between them.

Ophthalmologist: Total eye care

Ophthalmologists are doctors of medicine. These doctors complete the required six years of the medical school course plus pre-registration training.

After they become registered doctors they undergo specialist hospital training. This consists of medical and surgical speciality training specifically in eye care.

Ophthalmologists provide complete eye care services. These include:

• Vision services, including eye examinations
• Medical eye care -- for glaucoma, iritis, chemical burns, orbital cellulitis, etc.
• Surgical eye care -- for trauma, amblyopia, cataracts, glaucoma, tumours, etc.
• Diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions related to other diseases, like diabetes (diabetic retinopathy), arthritis (iritis) or brain conditions (multiple sclerosis/optic neuritis)
• Eye disease and injury preventive services
• Plastic surgery -- some ophthalmologists offer this service for drooping eyelids or skin tumours, or for smoothing wrinkles and improving skin tone around the eyes.

Optometrist: Vision care and eye care services

Optometrists are trained to diagnose and treat vision conditions like short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism. They are trained in prescribing eyeglasses, contact lenses, eye exercises, low vision aids and vision therapy.

They are also trained to identify cataracts, glaucoma and retinal disease, and some are able to use or supply medications to treat eye disease.

Optometrists usually attend a three or four year undergraduate honours degree course before starting a year-long pre-registration period.

Some complete a postgraduate one-year clinical residency to gain specialist certification.

The services optometrists provide include:

• Vision services such as eye examinations and treatment of conditions such as amblyopia and strabismus
• Diagnosing eye conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and conjunctivitis
• Prescribing medications for certain eye conditions
• Eye disease and injury-prevention services
• Prescribing and fitting glasses and contact lenses

Optometrists may also take part in pre- and postoperative care for patients having eye surgery.

Optometrists and ophthalmologists sometimes work in the same clinic and co-manage patients.

So ... what's an optician?

Opticians (also called dispensing opticians) assist patients in an important way: they fill the lens prescriptions that ophthalmologists and optometrists recommend.

Opticians:

• Evaluate lens prescriptions written by ophthalmologists and optometrists
• Dispense, adjust, repair and replace glasses, frames and contact lenses
• Take facial measurements
• Help decide which form of lens best fits a patient's needs
• Take charge of ordering and checking eye-related products, including contact and lenses for glasses.

Opticians follow a three-year course at a university. They can follow that with courses in specialities, such as contact lens paediatric eyecare. They are not trained to perform eye examinations.