Eye Doctors: Optometrists and Ophthalmologists
There are two main types of eye doctors: ophthalmologists and optometrists. Confused about which is which and who does what? Here's a look at how they're different.
Ophthalmologists and optometrists both work with your eyes, but their jobs are different. You may see both of these professionals as part of your overall eye care.
What Is an Ophthalmologist?
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who is able to treat complicated eye problems with surgery or other procedures.
Ophthalmologists attend medical school. After that, they have a 1-year internship and a residency of 3 years. That's sometimes followed by a fellowship of 1-2 years.
These eye doctors offer complete eye care services:
• Vision services, including eye exams
• Medical eye care, for conditions like glaucoma, iritis, and chemical burns
• Surgical eye care, for trauma, crossed eyes, cataracts, glaucoma, and other problems
• Diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions related to other diseases, like diabetes or arthritis
• Plastic surgery, to raise droopy eyelids or smooth out wrinkles
In ophthalmology, there are several specialties. They include:
Pediatric ophthalmology. These doctors treat eye problems in children. They can perform ophthalmic surgery on children who have crossed eyes or cataracts. They can treat retina issues that happen when babies are born early and inflammation that can cause vision loss, among other issues.
Neuro-ophthalmology. This type of doctor deals with eye issues that are caused by problems in your brain or optic nerve. Those can include drooping eyes, uncontrolled blinking, migraines, and eyelid spasms.
Ocular oncology. These are doctors who diagnose and treat cancers of the eye, the eyelid, and the eye socket.
What Is an Optometrist?
Optometrists focus on regular vision care and primary health care for the eye. After college, they spend 4 years in a professional program and get a doctor of optometry degree. But they don't go to medical school. Some optometrists get additional clinical training or complete a specialty fellowship after optometry school. They:
• Perform eye exams and vision tests
• Prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses
• Monitor eye conditions related to diseases like diabetes
• Manage and treat conditions like dry eye and glaucoma
• Provide low-vision aids and vision therapy
When it comes to choosing eyeglasses, Optics Eyewear Frames are undoubtedly an important consideration. They not only affect your visual comfort, but are also a reflection of your personal style. How to choose the Optics Eyewear Frames that are best for you?
Know your face shape
The first step in choosing Optics Eyewear Frames is to understand your face shape. Different face shapes are suitable for different glasses frame shapes. For example, someone with a square face shape may find a round or oval frame more suitable, while someone with a heart-shaped face may find a cat-eye-shaped frame more appealing.
Consider your lifestyle
Your lifestyle will also influence your decision to choose Optics Eyewear Frames. If you do a lot of outdoor activities or sports, you may want to choose a more sturdy and durable frame. If your job requires you to work in front of a computer for long periods of time, you may want to choose a frame that reduces eye strain.
Choose the color that suits you
Choosing the color of Optics Eyewear Frames is also an important consideration. You can choose the color that best suits you based on your skin tone, hair color and eye color. Generally speaking, people with cool tones are suitable for silver, black or blue frames, while people with warm tones are suitable for gold, brown or green frames.
There are specialties among optometrists. They include:
Pediatric optometry. These providers work with babies, toddlers, and children, using special techniques to test their vision.
Neuro-optometry. If you have vision problems that result from a brain injury, this is the type of optometrist you might visit.
Low-vision optometry. If you have low vision¡ªthat means you can't see well enough to perform your daily activities and your sight can't be corrected by glasses or contact lenses, medicine, or surgery¡ªlow-vision optometrists offer devices and strategies that can improve your quality of life.
Ophthalmologist vs. Optometrist
You may see both an optometrist and ophthalmologist for eye care.
You could have regular eye exams and get glasses or contact lens prescriptions from your optometrist. Your optometrist might spot signs of a more complicated eye problem, like cataracts, during your exam. They'll refer you to an ophthalmologist if you need medicine or surgery to treat an eye condition.
You can also get eye exams and vision correction from an ophthalmologist, if you prefer to see a doctor for your routine eye care.