The Differences Between an Optometrist and an Ophthalmologist

When you visit your local eye doctor, you might wonder if there’s really much of a difference between an ophthalmologist and an optometrist, or whether it’s just about semantics. 

In reality, both professions are important and work to keep your eyes healthy and functioning at their best. 

While the two roles are similar in some ways, there are also several key differences that set them apart from one another in terms of education and training, scope of practice, how they treat patients and more.

What is an Ophthalmologist?

Ophthalmologists are a type of medical doctor who specialize in the treatment, diagnosis, and surgical management of eye disease. They can prescribe medications to treat vision problems. 

Ophthalmologists complete 4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, 1 year of internship and 3 years of residency training. Most ophthalmologists complete a two-year fellowship after residency in a subspecialty area such as glaucoma or retina. 

Only an ophthalmologist can administer treatments that address the patient's underlying disease processes.

What is an Optometrist?

An optometrist is a healthcare professional who specializes in the diagnosis, management, and prevention of diseases relating to vision. Ophthalmologists are doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders of the eyes, ears, nose, mouth/and throat (ENT), head/neck & skin/related structures. 

Unlike optometrists, ophthalmologists can perform surgeries on the eyes such as cataract removal; remove foreign objects from the eye; and treat infections & diseases that affect any part of the head/neck area or skin.

Differences Between an Optometrist and an Ophthalmologist

While an optometrist and an ophthalmologist may both treat the eye, they have different roles. In training an ophthalmologist (an M.D.)  must attend a medical school and residency, an optometrist (an O.D.) attends optometry school and does not complete a medical residency.

An optometrist is a trained professional who diagnoses conditions affecting the eye. 

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor, specializing in diagnosing, managing and treating the eye. While ophthalmologists have to be licensed in every state before they can practice medicine and surgery, optometrists only need to get their license from the state they're practicing in.

Final Thoughts on Optometry vs. Ophthalmology

Although there are many similarities between optometry and ophthalmology, you can now see that the two professions are quite different. Both fields require schooling and a license, but beyond that, it is clear that optometry and ophthalmology play two very different roles in the medical field.

Schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist today at Colorado Eye Surgeons.