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Optician, Optometrist, Ophthalmologist ... Help! I'm Confused |
| ARA Content |
Why Seeing the Difference Is Important
(ARA) - Here's a quick test that's important to your health: do you know which type of eye care provider you visit for your eye glasses, disease testing and treatment and surgery? Do you see an optician, optometrist or ophthalmologist?
If you're like most Americans, you're not quite sure, but it does matter to you whether the person you are "seeing" is educated and trained to meet your eye healthcare needs. A survey of Americans, conducted by StrategyOne Research, showed that 30 percent of respondents do not know which kind of eye care professional they visit. A total of 70 percent are confused about or don't know which type of eye care professional has a medical degree, yet 96 percent say they want a medical doctor to carry out their complex eye care needs, such as prevention or treatment of eye disease and eye surgery.
Here is a quick primer on the differences between eye care providers. All of these professionals work together to ensure overall eye health.
Opticians (LDOs) fill prescriptions, issued by ophthalmologists and optometrists, for corrective eyewear. These prescriptions may include eyeglasses, contact lenses, low vision aids and ocular prostheses. Opticians have two years of training at an accredited college of ophthalmic dispensing.
Optometrists (ODs) must have some undergraduate education and a four-year optometry degree. They do not have a medical degree or take part in surgical internships or residencies. In general, they work with patients who have "healthy" eyes. Optometrists are trained to conduct primary eye care procedures such as refraction and fitting of contact lenses.
Ophthalmologists (MDs or DOs) undergo 12 years of undergraduate and medical or osteopathic education and residency. This specialized education and training prepares ophthalmologists to understand the relationship between your eyes and the rest of your body, how certain conditions -- like diabetes -- can affect your eyes.
"When I was an optometrist, I learned how to treat healthy eyes and correct vision with glasses or contacts," says Dr. Stephen Waller, an ophthalmologist and former optometrist from San Antonio, Texas. "It wasn't until medical school and surgical residency to become an ophthalmologist, though, that I learned how to diagnose and treat diseased eyes with medication, lasers and scalpels."
He says this more extensive training and education enabled him to understand the relationship between these procedures, other diseases and body systems. "It concerns me that people who haven't gone through this further education and training may be inclined to try to treat 'sick' eyes when they haven't had any experience in how to do this. Before I was an ophthalmologist, I didn't know what I didn't know. But I had a feeling that trying to stretch beyond my limits could impact not just a patient's eyes, but their overall health."
Bill Christofferson, a senior citizen from Utah, encourages people to understand who they are seeing for their eye care. Several months ago, a growth developed on Bill's eyelid. He got a first opinion from an individual in a "doctor's coat" who recommended surgery and offered to perform the procedure. It was only when he sought a second opinion -- this time with an ophthalmologist -- that he realized the first opinion was offered by an optometrist who was not licensed under law to perform the surgery.
"I was shocked when someone without a medical degree tried to come near my eye with a scalpel," says Christofferson. The ophthalmologist offered a different, correct diagnosis, performed the surgery and Bill's story had a happy ending.
If you do find yourself faced with a complex eye care need -- such as diagnosis and the need for treatment through medication or injections for an eye disease, or any type of laser or scalpel surgery -- remember to ensure that the person providing your treatment is an ophthalmologist -- an "Eye MD."
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