what is the difference between an optometrist and ophthalmologist?

Question

What is the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist?

Answer 1

If it is just for : New glasses, you can see an optometrist. For most any other eye problem see the ophthamologist. An ophthamologist is an M.D. And can perform surgical procedures, such as for cataracts and more.

Answer 2

Medical doctor: An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor first prior to specializing in the eye. He has to be educated in the entire field of medicine prior to then being trained to diagnose and treat eye problems. In this fashion, an ophthalmologist, unlike an optometrist who is not a medical doctor, can identify systemic diseases when he examines a patient's eyes and deal with it or refer the patient properly.

Answer 3

Medical doctor ophth: An ophthalmologist is a medical docotor and surgeon with the extensive medical and surgical training who unerstands the whole body issues and optics(glasses and contact lenses). An optometrist is train to do a general basic eye exam and optics. Most of the time optometrists refer more advance and complex cases to the ophthalmologist for the care.

Answer 4

Medical School: Ophthalmologists (eyemds) are doctors of medicine or osteopathy who complete 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, an internship, and a 3 year residency in ophthalmology. They can deliver complete medical and surgical eyecare. Optometrists are trained to diagnose and treat vision conditions, identify cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal disease, and to use some medications. They are not mds.

Answer 5

Ophthalmologist: Ophthalmologist goes to medical school -- they treat diseases of the entire body-- then they receive special training on all eye disorders, eye surgery, glasses, contacts. An optometrist makes glasses and fits contact lenses-- they are not medical doctors.

Answer 6

Physician or not: An ophthalmologist is a physician (M.D. Or D.O.) who specializes in treating diseases of the eye. They can do all the same basic stuff as an optometrist but can also prescribe drugs (like any doc) and perform surgery, etc. They go to med school just like family docs and pediatricians. Optometrists go to a different school to learn their craft and perform eye exams and prescribe lenses.

Answer 7

Medical school: Optometrists go to optometry school and some have "residencies" but the confusion probably comes from terms like dr and optometric physician. Ophthalmologists go to medical school, residency, and possibly fellowship and the main differences right now have to do with surgical training / experience by the time of graduation but there is a constant battle over scope of practice.

Answer 8

Eye docs: Optometrists are trained to fit lenses and have a smattering of knowledge of eye disease. They have legislative privileges to do more than their qualifications. An ophthalmologists is to an optometrist as a lawyer is to a legal assistant. Ophthalmologists are mds, take a board exam and are continually retested. Optoms have no board, no retesting, cannot do surgery, etc. Big difference.

Answer 9

If it is just for : New glasses, you can see an optometrist. For most any other eye problem see the ophthamologist. An ophthamologist is an M.D. And can perform surgical procedures, such as for cataracts and more.

Answer 10

Medical doctor: An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor first prior to specializing in the eye. He has to be educated in the entire field of medicine prior to then being trained to diagnose and treat eye problems. In this fashion, an ophthalmologist, unlike an optometrist who is not a medical doctor, can identify systemic diseases when he examines a patient's eyes and deal with it or refer the patient properly.

Answer 11

Medical doctor ophth: An ophthalmologist is a medical docotor and surgeon with the extensive medical and surgical training who unerstands the whole body issues and optics(glasses and contact lenses). An optometrist is train to do a general basic eye exam and optics. Most of the time optometrists refer more advance and complex cases to the ophthalmologist for the care.

Answer 12

MD: Hi: ophthalmologist is a md who is surgically trained. Optometrist are trained to examined and dispense glasses and contacts. Best regards: dr. Mark reed placentia-linda foot & ankle group drs. Mark and melanie reed 1275 rose drive, suite 136 placentia, ca 92870 fax: (714) 528-0739 office: (714) 528-2252 www.Footpain.Org [email protected]

Answer 13

See below : An opthamologist is an md who does study & surgery of the eyes .An optometrist does 4 years of optometry school in study of the eyes.

Answer 14

Either: Both can help you with this. Optometrists tend to specialize more often in complex fitting of contact lenses, but some ophthalmologists also do this.

Answer 15

Several: Ophthalmologists attende medical school and receive an md or do degree and then do a residency in ophthalmology. Optometrist do 4 years at an optometry school and receive an od degree.

Answer 16

An opthomologist: Is an md, that is an eye doctor. Most, perform eye surguries. An optometrist is not a medical doctor, does not perform surguries. In some states, dilating the eye can not be done by an optometrist. One often finds optometrists working in eye glass stores.

Answer 17

MD vs OD: An opthamologist when to medical school then specialized in eyes. An optometrist went to optometry school. An opthamologist is usually an eye surgeon where optometrist specialize in making glasses.

Answer 18

Education/training: Ophthalmologists are mds (4 years of medical school) who go on to do 1 year of internship and 3 years of ophthalmology residency. Some, like retina specialists, go on to sub specialty training in a fellowship program (1 or 2 years). Mds can do surgery on the eye, optometrist can not (not mds). They go to optometry school after college. They can prescribe glasses and contacts and some eye drops.

Answer 19

See below: An ophthalmologist is an md (went to medical school) who can treat medical and surgical diseases of the eye, in addition to prescribing glasses/contacts. An optometrists is an od who can prescribe glasses/contact and treat some medical eye conditions (depending on state law), but not do surgery on the eye.

Answer 20

Surgery: Ophthalmologists can perform surgical procedures on the eye. Optometrists cannot perform any surgery in most states. Both can medically manage eye diseases and prescribe contacts/glasses.

what is the difference between an optometrist and ophthalmologist?

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