There are three types of eye care professionals who provide patient care in Canada and the US; optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians. Sometimes, people are confused about which professional they should see when they need eye care. Making the confusion worse is the fact that there is some overlap in what each one does.
Here we explain the difference between an optician, an ophthalmologist and an optometrist.
Opticians
An optician is a health professional who specializes in preparing and supplying optical appliances according to the written prescriptions of an optometrist or ophthalmologist. They also fit and finish eyeglass lenses and frames and might also dispense low vision devices, contact lenses and artificial eyes. An optician’s training includes measuring eyes and adjusting frames.
Opticians are specialists in lens and frame selection. They have specialized knowledge about lens options, types of lenses and how to measure accurately for the best performance. An optician is the person to see if you need your eyeglass frames adjusted for more comfortable wear.
Some opticians become specialists in fitting and dispensing low vision devices and/or specialty eyewear such as safety glasses, scuba goggles and other sports eyewear. Many are experts in frame repair and welding.
Optometrists
Optometry is a specialty that is concerned with the health of the eyes, the visual system and its related structures. Optometrists have the initials "O.D." (Doctor of Optometry) after their names.
A Doctor of Optometry is an independent, primary health care provider who specializes in the examination, diagnosis, treatment, management and prevention of the diseases and disorders of the eye and associated structures. They can also diagnosis other systemic conditions that can often affect the eyes.
Optometrists prescribe corrective eyewear such as eyeglasses, contact lenses and low vision aids. They also diagnose refractive errors, test for binocular vision disorders like strabismus and amblyopia and provide vision therapy and other types of treatment. In addition, optometrists can help to manage the ocular effect of other diseases, such as diabetes.
Ophthalmologists
Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine that specializes in the anatomy, function, and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a medical or osteopathic physician who specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and the prevention of eye disease. These professionals have the initials "M.D." (Doctor of Medicine) or "D.O." (Doctor of Osteopathy) after their names.
Ophthalmologists specialize in eye diseases and complex and delicate eye surgery. They are trained to provide full-spectrum eye care, from routine eye exams to prescribing glasses and contact lenses, the same way an optometrist does.
Ophthalmologists treat eye diseases, prescribe medications, and perform all types of surgery to improve, or prevent the worsening of eye and vision-related conditions. They use medication and surgery to treat various eye conditions and diseases such as removing cataracts. They can also perform elective refractive procedures, such as LASIK.
Some ophthalmologists become specialists in specific areas of the eye, such as the cornea or the retina.
Crossover Care
Optometrists specialize in how the eyes function, look at how they work together as a team and work on improving comfort and ease of vision for their patients. An Ophthalmologist may be thought of as a medical specialist for the treatment of eye disease and performing eye surgery.
You can get a prescription for eyeglasses from either of these medical professionals, however, optometrists do more testing such as eye teaming, aiming and tracking and often prescribe lenses meant to relieve stress and make vision more efficient and stable.
Ophthalmologists usually determine if there’s a refractive error but don’t investigate further to see how the lenses may influence visual functioning. These are the medical professionals to see if you need to have cataracts removed.
