The optometrist generally serves as a primary care clinician who evaluates and treats a variety of visual performance and eye health conditions. Patients with complicated eye diseases are referred to ophthalmologists, neurologists, internists or whatever combination of care is appropriate. The ophthalmologist is the physician specializing in the medical and surgical treatment of eye disease. The optician is trained in the production and application of spectacles and contact lenses. See similar questions...

ophthalmologist is a physician who specializes in comprehensive eye care. Ophthalmologists can examine, diagnose and treat eye disorders. They are skilled in all facets of eye care, from prescribing eye glasses to performing intricate eye surgery. Ophthalmologists receive four years of medical school after college, a year's internship, and a three-year residency. Most of Emory Eye Center ophthalmologists have had additional training in a subspecialty. See similar questions...

By the BabyCenter editorial staff, from: http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babydevelopment/1437477.html Ophthalmologists and optometrists both do eye examinations, diagnose and treat vision problems and eye diseases, and prescribe eye glasses and contact lenses. The difference is in their training and the scope of their practice: Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eyes. See similar questions...

An Ophthalmologist is a medical doctor with specialty training in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases. An ophthalmologist's training consists of college, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 4 years in a residency program specializing in medical and surgical eye care. Optometrist prescribes glasses and contact lenses, but is not a medical doctor, and does not treat all eye diseases nor do eye surgery. An Optician is a specialist in the fitting and production of glasses. See similar questions...

Doctors of optometry (i.e. OD's) are independent primary health care providers who examine, diagnose, treat (if TPA certified) and manage diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures. Optometrists are highly educated and trained to diagnose disease and pathological conditions manifested in the human eye, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. An ophthalmologist is a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating eye diseases. See similar questions...

optometrist is a doctor of optometry who examines patients in order to diagnose, treat, manage and prevent diseases and disorders of the eye and visual system and its related structures. Learn more about the education of optometrists. ophthalmologist is a physician who, upon graduation from medical school, undertakes several years of post-graduate training in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the eye. See similar questions...

An optometrist is a licensed doctor trained to diagnose and treat vision disorders. They can also diagnose and treat many conditions such as eye infections (pink eye, as an example), remove foreign bodies, and glaucoma. For conditions they do not treat, they will refer you to the appropriate specialist. An ophthalmologist's training is mostly medical. They usually treat eye disease, do surgery, and have less training for vision. See similar questions...

ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (M.D.) 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, including four years of college, four years of medical school training, and four years of internship and residency training. See similar questions...

Both are eye doctors that diagnose and treat many of the same eye conditions. The American Optometric Association defines Doctors of Optometry as: primary health care professionals who examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures as well as diagnose related systemic conditions. They prescribe glasses, contact lenses, low vision rehabilitation, vision therapy and medications as well as perform certain surgical procedures. See similar questions...

The term 'optometrist' came into use in 1987 to replace 'ophthalmic optician' in the same way that 'pharmacist' replaced 'chemist'. An optician can be ophthalmic, dispensing or manufacturing; it is the optometrist who is qualified to test your eyes. Some dispensing opticians have extra qualifications that enable them to fit contact lenses and carry out certain clinical tests. See similar questions...

Presently, fewer than 5% of all eye doctors specialize in low vision. Though there are some ophthalmologists that specialize in low vision, most low vision specialists are optometrists. Effective low vision rehabilitation requires expertise and technology for the thorough evaluation of visual function as well as full access to available optical and electronic low vision devices. See similar questions...