How to Know When You Need an Ophthalmologist Instead of an Optometrist
Have you ever sat in an eye doctor's chair and wondered, is this the right kind of doctor for what I'm dealing with? Most people use the words "eye doctor" and "optometrist" like they mean the same thing. They don't. And that mix-up can cost you, not just time and money, but your vision. In the U.S., over 12 million people aged 40 and older have vision impairment, according to the CDC. Yet most never question whether they're seeing the right type of eye care provider. There's a real difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist, and knowing that difference could change your outcome. Optometrist vs. Ophthalmologist — What's Actually Different? The confusion is understandable. Both work with eyes. Both sit you in that same chair and ask you to read letters off a wall. But they are not trained the same way and they are not licensed to do the same things. An optometrist holds a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree, typically a four-year g...