If you ever had to search for an eye care provider, there are chances that you stumbled upon three words: Ophthalmologist, Optometrist and Optician. Each of these eye care practitioners plays a significant role in maintaining your eye health. However, you must understand their individual significance before deciding whom to approach and when.
As a leading eye hospital, we have listed down the difference between the three types of eye care providers:
1.Ophthalmologist: An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who provides complete eye and vision care services. The services include diagnosis and treatment of eye problems due to other health conditions, medical and surgical eye care, and plastic surgery near the eye area. What makes an ophthalmologist different from an optometrist and optician is their level of training. As a medical doctor, an ophthalmologist undergoes extensive training and is authorised to practise medicine and surgery. They can also prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct a patient’s vision problems.
Here are some suggestions for questions you can ask your ophthalmologist during an eye examination:
- Can you let me know what eye tests should be done?
- What is the cause of my vision loss?
- Do I have peripheral field loss?
- How is my eye condition? Is it stable?
Why would you be referred to an ophthalmologist?
You will be referred to an ophthalmologist if the optometrist who did your eye examination finds signs of any eye condition. He or she will refer you to an ophthalmologist who specializes in eye conditions and diseases.
Note: If you are looking for the best eye doctor in Kolkata, visit our Disha Eye Hospitals. Our eye specialists specialize in diagnosing and treating several eye conditions such as glaucoma, corneal diseases, retinal conditions, cataract, and many other conditions.
2.Optometrist: An optometrist is a primary eye care professional who is trained to examine the eyes, detect any defects, provide low-vision aids and therapy, and prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses. They focus on the regular vision care of the eyes.
Here are some suggestions for questions you can ask your optometrist:
- What eye tests will you be running?
- What do my symptoms mean? Is there any eye condition?
- How do I maintain and monitor my eye health?
- What are the treatments for my eye condition?
What can an optometrist diagnose?
An optometrist can find out about your health problems by examining your eyes. Along with diagnosing the eye problem, he or she can also treat the eye condition caused due to conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and others.
3.Optician: An optician is a trained technician to design, verify and fit your eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct your eyesight. They are not doctors, they follow the prescription given by your ophthalmologist or optometrist. The optician is not permitted to carry out eye tests or to diagnose and treat your eyes.
Here are some suggestions for questions you can ask an optician:
- What kind of tests are involved in the eye exam I am prescribed?
- Where do I find information about eye health?
- Am I safe to drive?
- What are the treatments available for my eye condition?
What does an optician look for?
An optician tests the eyes on the grounds of their ability to focus, coordinate, and see depth and colours accurately.