Hello again and welcome back to my blog, I’m Dr. Whitney Welder, OD and I’m here today to answer your pressing eye questions. Today’s question is “What is the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist?”
Similarities
Let’s start with the similarities. Both are doctors trained extensively in caring for eyes. Both spend many years studying the intricacies of eyes. In clinical settings, they use similar equipment. Often, they will collaborate in patient care.
Differences: Optometrists
Optometrists will complete a 4 year undergraduate degree and apply to optometry school. Once accepted, they will finish a 4 year doctoral degree in optometry and at the end will graduate with a doctorate of optometry (OD). They have the opportunity to complete a residency if they’d like to specialize further and most residency programs are about a year.
Once they’ve graduated, optometrists are considered primary eye care doctors. They perform routine exams and often prescribe glasses and contacts. They also monitor and treat eye conditions that do not require surgical intervention such as dry eyes, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. If a condition requires surgical intervention, then they refer to an ophthalmologist.
Differences: Ophthalmologists
Ophthalmologists will complete a 4 year undergraduate degree and then apply to medical school. Once accepted, they will finish a 4 year medical degree and at the end will graduate with a doctorate of medicine (MD). Then, after those 8 years of post high school education, they move on to residency. An ophthalmology residency is typically around 4 years, depending on the program.
Many often go on to specialize even further through a surgical fellowship, which may take additional years. Some of these subspecialties include cornea, retina, pediatrics, oculoplastics or neuro-opthalmology. Once they’ve graduated, they are specialists in eye care. They often will help patients requiring more specialized treatment vs routine treatment. Ophthalmologists perform surgery to improve eye health and vision.
Please note, I am an optometrist, but I’m not necessarily your optometrist. Any advice in the above blog post is not meant to be taken as personalized medical advice. Come see me or one of the great eye doctors at Prairie Vision Center for more personalized care.
If you have a question for the blog to answer, please email prairievisioncenter@gmail.com or call 701-642-4090.