The Dr. Bill Takeshita Foundation

Last Modified: Sat, 18 Aug 2007

Optometrists and ophthalmologists are eye care professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of vision problems. Although they both are eye doctors who are required to diagnose eye diseases and disorders of the visual system, they have unique training to provide different forms of treatment to help children and adults with vision problems.

Ophthalmologists

Ophthalmologists are eye physicians (M.D.’s) who specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of eye diseases. There are approximately 15,000 ophthalmologists in the United States. The education of ophthalmologists consists of 4 years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school, and three years of residency training. Some ophthalmologists attend fellowship programs where they gain additional training and experience in specific sub-specialties such as pediatrics, strabismus, and neurophalmology, diseases of the vitreous and retina, and refractive surgery.

Optometrists

Optometrists are eye doctors who earn a doctorate degree in optometry (O.D.). There are over 30,000 optometrists in the United States who specialize in the non-surgical treatment of vision problems by using glasses, contact lenses, low vision aids, vision therapy, and medications. Optometrists do not perform surgery and refer patients who require surgery to ophthalmologists. The education of optometrists includes four years of undergraduate school and four years of optometry school. Optometry school is different than medical school in that it concentrates on the physiology, neurology, and processes of vision to train optometrists how to diagnoses and treat eye diseases and disorders of the visual system. Some optometrists attend residency and fellowship programs to gain additional experience in the fields of pediatrics, low vision, ocular disease, and vision therapy.

In the past, patients with vision problems would seek the care of optometrists and ophthalmologists. Prior to 1980, most optometrists were not trained to use medications to diagnoses eye disease and they primarily fit patients with glasses. Today, optometrists use medications to diagnose and treat eye disease and are considered to be the primary eye care professional in the health care system. HMO’s and managed care systems refer patients with vision problems to optometrists for their initial examinations. Optometrists treat vision problems with medications, glasses, and contact lenses. Other times, optometrists will refer patients to ophthalmologists for surgery. In cases where more specialized ophthalmological care is needed, patients will be referred to ophthalmologists who have sub-specialties in Neurophthalmology, ocular oncology, pediatric strabismus, and other specialties. Ophthalmologists may also refer patients to low vision specialists when their patients’ vision cannot be corrected to better than 20/40 after surgery.

Opticians

Opticians are professionals who fill the prescriptions written by optometrists and ophthalmologists. Opticians may grind lenses, fill prescriptions, fit glasses, and some sell over the counter magnifiers. Opticians are not licensed to measure vision, diagnose disorders of the eyes or visual system, nor are they allowed to prescribe glasses, contact lenses, medications, vision therapy, or low vision aids.