Optometrist v. Ophthalmologist – What’s the difference?

Both optometrists and ophthalmologists are experts who play a critical role in every patient’s eye health. Depending on your needs as a patient, you may see one or the other…here’s why:

Optometrists are doctors of optometry (O.D.) who are licensed to provide eye care including:

  • Comprehensive eye exams
  • Prescribe corrective lenses for vision problems and refractive errors
  • Detecting eye abnormalities and diagnosing eye diseases
  • Prescribing medication or treatment to manage eye conditions

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (M.D. or D.O.) who are licensed to provide eye care including:

  • Comprehensive eye exams
  • Prescribe corrective lenses for vision problems and refractive errors
  • Detecting eye abnormalities and diagnosing eye diseases
  • Prescribing medication or treatment to manage eye conditions
  • Perform surgery or medical interventions to treat complex eye problems

Questions about choosing the eye doctor right for you? Give us a call and we can help pair you with the nearest ReFocus doctor that’s best suited for your needs.