Just as how there are different types of doctors and specialists to tend to your physical needs and different types of dentists to tend to your dental needs, there are also different types of eye doctors to tend to your vision needs. You can learn about the differences between an optician, an optometrist and an ophthalmologist by reading the information given to you here. This way, you will know which one to choose for your vision needs. Here are the main differences between the different types of optical professionals.
What is an optician?
An optician is a technician who will take the prescription provided to you by the optometrist or the ophthalmologist and turn that prescription into the right type of glasses or contact lenses. While an optician can give you your glasses or contacts, they are not able to diagnose or treat eye conditions.
What is an optometrist?
An optometrist is a medical professional who is educated on tending to your eye care. While they didn't go to a medical school as physicians do, they do attend four years in a program that is aimed at offering them a doctor of optometry degree. If they choose, they also have the option to further their education, so they can cover specialized needs some patients may require.
An optometrist generally tends to the public with regards to giving them their routine eye exams and prescribing prescription glasses or contact lenses. An optometrist can tend to issues such as near and far sightedness and astigmatisms.
They can also diagnose things like cataracts, glaucoma, conjunctivitis, macular degeneration, and more. Optometrists can prescribe medications to deal with most of these issues. For example, they can give you the necessary medications to treat conjunctivitis, which is commonly known as 'pink eye'.
What is an ophthalmologist?
An ophthalmologist is trained in all types of eye conditions and some of them go on to become specialists for specific conditions. An ophthalmologist that has this specialized training is also known as a 'subspecialist'.
If you have a serious problem with your eye, such as a detached retina, then you are going to want to go to an ophthalmologist. They will be able to perform surgery on the retina in an attempt to save your vision.
Conclusion
Now that you are better familiar with the different vision professionals, you will know who to call when you are in need of care for something related to your eyes or vision. Contact a clinic, like The Eye Center, for more help.
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