Optometrists and ophthalmologists

There are three types of eye professionals: optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians, the former two of which are eye doctors.

An eye optician should only take an optician training program or a formal training. They are only licensed to fit and sell kinds of eyewear according to the prescription from an optometrist or an ophthalmologist.

Equivalent to a dentist in educational requirements, an optometrist must get a bachelor degree in science plus a four-year of post graduate training in optometry school. Today, optometrists in the United States are licensed to some clinical rights: vision examination, eyeglasses and contact lenses prescription, low vision care, vision therapy, pre- and post-operative care after a surgery and eye medications prescription. The last one is a recent expansion.

The education and training requirements of an ophthalmologist are similar to an oral surgeon, which add one year of internship and a minimum three years of hospital-based residency in ophthalmology to the requirement of an optometrist. Only an ophthalmologist is entitled to conduct an eye surgery.

If you just need a regular eye exam, it is your personal preference to choose an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. Although many optometrists cover the services including common eye problems and chronic eye diseases, such as dry eyes and glaucoma, only an ophthalmologist can provide complex diseases diagnosis and treatment, as well as eye surgeries. In this case, if you have been diagnosed with an unusual eye problem such as macular degeneration and cataracts, you’d better go to an ophthalmologist for professional treatment. Another common operation is co-management. If the patient’s problem is beyond his ability, an optometrist may refer to an ophthalmologist for medical treatment or a surgery, and then the patient is returned to the optometrist for further monitor and treatment.

Vision or health insurance is also an influential factor in choosing an optometrist or ophthalmologist, since they may be authorized eye care providers covered by the vision benefits. You can call the doctor’s office or find their information on the insurance company’s website. You should also be clear that whether you need to submit the insurance claim to the company after receiving eye care from the doctor, as well as the copayment issue. For old people, Medicare may also help in reducing eye care expense, although it does not cover routine eye exams. Under some situations such as insurance coverage and pre-existing eye problems, part of or entire eye exams may be covered.

The cooperation between your doctor and other medical and surgical specialists are also important, in case of some complex conditions. Your friends and colleagues may provide helpful recommendation in doctor selection.