About Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians and Orthoptists. Do you get confused between the above three titles? What are they, what is the difference? Read on to learn the significant difference between these designations, they certainly do not do the same things in eye care.
What is an Ophthalmologists?
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor, specially trained in the medical and surgical care and treatment of the eyes. Becoming an ophthalmologist can take 12 or more years of advanced education and training. Ophthalmologists must complete 5 to 6 years of medical school, and 1 to 2 years of housemanship (hospital training). After that, the doctor undergoes 3 to 5 years of hospital residency to train in the medical specialty of ophthalmology.
It may seem surprising that a doctor would require so much training to treat such a small body part. But when we consider how important vision is to us all, and how complex and delicate the eye is, it isn’t so surprising after all.
What Other Professionals Care For The Eyes?
People commonly confuse ophthalmologists with optometrists and opticians, but there are important differences among them.
Optometrists (Bachelor of Optometry) attend 4 years of tertiary education, where they are trained to examine the eyes to determine the presence of a limited number and type of vision problems and certain problems related to eye movement. Optometrists primarily prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses. In USA, optometrists are given the title of “Doctor of Optometry”.
Orthoptics is a three-year full-time degree course. Orthoptists now spend the majority of their day assessing, diagnosing and managing patients with eye muscle disorders. Opticians are individuals who are trained to design, verify, and fit eyeglass lenses and frames.