Optometrist vs Ophthalmologist – What is the difference?
As an Eye Doctor in San Jose I often get this question during our eye exams, “what is the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist” and “when should I go to an optometrist and when should I go to an ophthalmologist?”
Both optometrists and ophthalmologists are doctors, an optometrist receives a doctor of optometry (OD) and an ophthalmologist receives a doctor of medicine (MD).
Optometrist are your first line of defense
In general, an optometrist is your first line of defense in regards to the health of your eyes. Most people associate optometrists with prescription eye glasses and contacts. It is true one of the primary responsibilities of an optometrist is to diagnose vision problems and prescribe the appropriate prescription for near sightedness, far sightedness or astigmatism.
What many people do not realize is how important an eye exam is to assess not only the health of your eyes but can also detect some overall health issues including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. This is the reason an annual comprehensive eye exam is so important. An optometrist has a therapeutic license which enables them to prescribe certain medications like antibiotics for an eye infection or treatment.
Optometrists work with Ophthalmologists
Many optometrists work with ophthalmologists to “co-manage” an person’s vision care. Once an eye disease or trauma is detected and treatment falls outside the scope of an optometrist (like surgery), the optometrist will refer the patient to the appropriate ophthalmologist that specializes in that area. Ophthalmologist are specialists for eye medical and surgical problems.
The most common areas that ophthalmologists specialize in are:
- Retinal – focus is on the retina or back of the eye.
- Cataract – when the lense becomes cloudy due to age, trauma or disease and needs to be surgically removed.
- Corneal – focus is on the front of they eye. Lasik surgeons are corneal specialists.
- Glaucoma – the pressure within the eye is high and damages the optical nerve generally due to a group of diseases that results in vision loss.
Ophthalmologists are MD’s and have been fully trained in four years of medical school and an additional three to four years of residency. Many ophthalmologists are involved in research to help understand causes and develop cures for eye diseases and vision problems.
You should see an optometrist or ophthalmologist if you have the any of the following:
- vision that is distorted
- high blood pressure
- flashes of light or new floaters (black “strings” or specks in
- the vision)
- a family history of serious eye disease
- seeing haloes at night(colored circles around lights)
- thyroid disease-related eye problems
- (Graves’ disease)
- severe eye injury or eye pain
- bulging of one or both eyes
- eyes that are misaligned
- seeing double vision
- total loss of peripheral (side) vision
- diabetes mellitus
- AIDS
- eyelid abnormalities
Dr. Tarryn Uyen Ngo is business owner and optometrist of San Jose Vision Care – North Valley Optometry, serving San Jose, Milpitas, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.
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