Optometrist vs. Ophthalmologist: What’s the Difference?
There are two main types of eye doctors: ophthalmologists and optometrists. Both play an important role in caring for the vision of their patients. However, there are differences in the training these health professionals receive, as well as the kinds of conditions they treat.
Doctors of Optometry (O.D.)
These doctors specialize in general eye care and treating problems with how you see, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, glaucoma and astigmatism. An annual visit to an optometrist is generally recommended for most people to maintain proper eye health. According to SVS Vision, regular eye exams are “crucial for children, those over age 40 and contact lens wearers.” You can often purchase prescription glasses, contact lenses, and prescription sunglasses at optical shops within an optometrist’s office.
Optometrists must complete an undergraduate degree, as well as a four-year optometry degree at an accredited program. They may also participate in externship training. The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry states that optometrists can provide services such as visual exams, prescribing medicine for glaucoma or providing follow-up care after surgery.
Ophthalmologists (M.D. or “eye M.D.”)
These doctors are physicians who provide medical and surgical care for vision disorders and diseases. Ophthalmologists may specialize in a certain area such as blindness, cataract or LASIK surgery, macular degeneration, eye trauma or eye cancer. Many also are involved in research and clinical trials.
Ophthalmologists must earn a medical degree and complete three to eight years of internship and residency. Successfully completing a licensing exam is also necessary before working as a practicing eye doctor.
Taking care of eyesight is an important part of maintaining one’s health. Optometrists and ophthalmologists often work together to provide the best care based on a patient’s vision needs.
Vision screenings are considered an essential health benefit for children, though not all plans include vision coverage for adults. If vision care is important to you, choose a health plan that includes this benefit. You may need a referral to see an ophthalmologist under some plans.
You can learn more about BCBSM’s vision and dental plans here, or use our Find a Doctor Tool to help you select a vision provider.
If you liked this post, you may want to check out:
- What is an Otolaryngologist?
- Fixes for the Most Common Vision Problems
- Vision Disorders and Aging: The Implications for Seniors
Photo credit: andriano_cz
It’s great to know this difference. I have been to the optometrist before for annual visits, but I didn’t know why I would need to go to and ophthalmologist. I’m glad I know the difference now.
Thanks for explaining the difference between the different vision careers. I feel like a lot of people have this very same problem where they don’t know who to visit. The three big careers are optician optometry and ophthalmology. If you don’t know the difference between all of them, you may just end up at the wrong eye care center.
Just to clarify: Both Optometrists (OD’s) and ophthalmologists (OMD’s) have 4 years of eye specific training and are both equally qualified to perform medical eye exams and bill medical insurance accordingly. They are both state licensed and held to the same legal standards. The main difference is that OMD’s are trained and licensed to perform surgery, while OD’s do not perform surgery. Further, OMD’s may specialize in a particular eye area (retina, glaucoma, cornea etc and perform surgery for that given area). However, OMD’s generally do not work with contact lenses, nor do they have the same level of optical/vision science background as OD’s. What does this all mean? If you are generally healthy, you are often better off seeing an optometrist as you will get a better refraction (if you require glasses and/or contacts) and an equivalent medical eye evaluation. If you are an ill person (uncontrolled diabetic, immuno-compromised, cancer, etc) need surgery (ie. refractive surgery, cataracts), or have an advanced medical eye condition, likely only correctable by surgery, you are better off seeing an ophthalmologist. Regardless, go get checked out at least every other year. Hope this helps, Dr. C, OD.
I actually had no idea there was such a difference. Optometry sounds like the one I need to go visit when I look at your description. No need to jump into surgical procedures if I don’t need to! Thanks for keeping me from making an embarrassing mistake!
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Thanks for posting about the difference between Optometry and Ophthalmologists. One of my good friends was thinking about getting Lasik eye surgery. This will be useful in making a decision thank you!
http://www.andersonvisioncare.ca/vision-and-learning/eye-diseases.php
I have always wondered what the difference between optometrists and ophthalmologists was. Optometrists are more general practice. That is what my uncle does for a living. I am interested in the ophthalmologist side!
Bill Barnett | http://www.optometristkamloops.ca
So the people that I see to have an eye exam are optometrists. Ophthalmologists are those that do surgeries. I’ve always wondered what the difference was. It sounds like they both have to take quite a bit of schooling to do this stuff. http://www.andersonvisioncare.ca/vision-and-learning/eye-diseases.php
I had no idea that there was such a difference between optomotrist and opthalmologists. I’ve been feeling like I may need glasses and it sounds like I’ll have to visit an optometrist. Thanks for sharing a little more information. http://www.johnmountfordoptometrist.com.au
I like how you said, “However, there are differences in the training these health professionals receive, as well as the kinds of conditions they treat.” This is very helpful. I had no idea that there were two types of eye doctors and I had no idea it mattered which one you went to. What kind of procedures (if any) would you say that I can go to my regular optometrist to have done?
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Hi Connor, thanks for reading. The American Optometric Association has some helpful information about common eye symptoms and conditions treated by these types of health care professionals available here.
This is some great information, and I appreciate your point that an optometrist specializes in general care and treating problems with how you see. I’ve noticed recently that far away objects seem blurrier than they used to be. I’ll definitely visit an optometrist soon to see if I need glasses or some other kind of treatment. Thanks for the great post! http://www.drmayers.com/
I never knew that ophthalmologists focused more on surgical care. I want to go into eye care, but I wasn’t sure where to specialize so this was helpful – optometrists seems to be more general, but as a result have to go to less school while ophthalmologists have to go through a ton more school. Based on that alone, my decision may have just become much easier. Thanks for sharing! http://www.brookseyecare.com/
I have always wondered the difference between optometrists and ophthalmologists. So, I have worn glasses since I was 8 years old and the person I see to get a prescription is an optometrist. However, I think I want to get LASIK sometime in the future, and that would be done by an ophthalmologist, right? Thanks for the info! http://www.dominioneyecare.net
I think I am guilty of mixing up these two fields as well since the words are so similar and they deal with eyes. Now I know that if I need an exam, I should seek out a optometrist. Also, if I need some surgery, I could go to a ophthalmologist. Thanks for clearing up the differences between the two!
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I had no idea there was such a huge difference between these two eye doctors. It sounds like that if you’re looking for LASIK surgery, you would need a ophthalmologists. I’ll have to keep these differences in mind the next time I’m looking for a medical stuff with my eyes. Thanks for the great article!
http://www.newvisioneyecenter.com/cfiles/procedures_ophthalmology.cfm
I had no idea there was such a difference with these types of eye doctors. I know that for me, I just have basic nearsightedness and I don’t need any extensive surgery that I know of. I’ll have to make sure that I’m seeing a doctor of Optometry to get the care I need. Thanks for the great info!
http://allabouteyes.com/all-about-eyes-edwardsville/
I want to make sure that get my eyes taken care of. It makes sense that I would want to see an optometrist! I need to know whether or not I need glasses, after all. http://www.deengrosseye.com/
I’ve always wondered what the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist is. I didn’t know that ophthalmologists are specialized in doing surgery! It makes sense you would want one of them to handle vision disorders and diseases. http://www.dixieos.com/
I like how you mentioned that regular eye exams are important for children. My son hasn’t mentioned having any problems with his vision, so I hadn’t even thought about taking him to an optometrist. I guess he wouldn’t have much experience and be able to tell if he has bad vision though, so maybe it would be a good idea to have his eyes examined. http://eyedistrict.com.au/our-optometrists/
Great article! Employees around the company need to understand medical terminology, especially physicians specialties.
Glad you enjoyed the article, C. Henry!
It sure was helpful when you said that ophthalmologists could provide medical and surgical care for vision problems, and they must specialize in a certain area. With this in mind, I will ask my mother to see an ophthalmologist for help before this month ends. She almost got into an auto accident 5 days ago due to a cataract in her right eye, and I want it to be surgically removed. https://stamfordeyeassociates.com/comprehensive-ophthalmology/