Making an eye appointment is usually a pretty straight forward task. But with all the changes in health care and the many different packages available today, you want to make sure you are getting the proper care.
You probably did not realize that there are major differences between eye care doctors. Many people mistakenly think they are one and the same. There are actually three big O’s of eye care.
They are the optician, the optometrist and the ophthalmologist.
This article is written to educate you in the understanding of each profession and the importance of choosing the right doctor for all your eye care. Each of the three O’s provide different levels of training and expertise and you’ll need to know a little about each one in order to chose the correct treatment for the care of your eye health. There is a certain level of overlap between the professions and each one has a different accredited skill.
An optician is trained to verify and fit your eyeglass frame and lenses. As well as design, fit contact lenses and other eye correction devices. Opticians use prescriptions written by ophthalmologists or optometrists. They can only fill prescriptions. They are not trained to perform medical diagnosis for the eyes. Their licensing requirements vary from state to state.
The next “O” of qualified eye care doctors is the optometrist.
Optometrists acquire a degree after a four year post graduate attendance at optometry school. Optometrists conduct general eye exams, fitting eye glasses and/or contact lenses. In a limited manner they can also write medication prescriptions.
Finally there are the ophthalmologists.
An ophthalmologist is a qualified medical doctor. After four years of college, four years of medical school and a year of internship they receive a degree and are licensed to practice. They are different from the other two big “O’s” as they can diagnose and treat any problem in regards to the eye.
They are trained in full spectrum treatment of eye care, providing prescriptions and in some cases are involved in scientific research programs which investigate the many causes and cures for eye disease and vision issues.
Now that you know a little bit more about the three big “O’s” and the roles they play in the care of a functioning and healthy eye you will be better equipped to select the eye care specialist with the correct training to care for your individual eye care needs.
Be sure to check your doctor’s credentials to make sure they offer the quality care you need. Most opticians and ophthalmologists will provide you with licensees and certificates upon your request. If in doubt you can always check with you local state board of optometry.
Don’t forget too that you can find an accredited eye doctor by getting a referral either from your company provider list or seeking answers from friends or family members.
Hopefully this article has given you enough information to make a qualified eye care choice about which of the “Os” you need.