Is It Better To See An Optometrist Or An Ophthalmologist?
Just as you would with any other part of your body, it’s important to take the proper measures to ensure your sight and eye health are in peak condition. As we begin to age, it’s to be expected that our eyesight begins to slowly deteriorate and loses its ability to see 20/20, however drastic changes can be prevented or solved by annual eye check-ups. For children, it’s recommended that you see your eye doctor once a year, while you can extend that period of time to every two years as an adult. By looking after your eyes, you can feel confident that they will continue to serve you in your older age.
As with other medical fields, there is a wide range of professions that specialize in the study and health of the eyes. This can become confusing, as you may not understand which professional you need to visit based on your issue or concern. For example, optometrists and ophthalmologists are two of the most common eye care professionals that you will encounter, but their roles do differ. So let’s explore the differences between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist so that you can better determine which one you may need to visit.
Optometrists
It’s likely that you are most familiar with the role of the optometrist, as they are who you visit during your regular eye check-ups. An optometrist is your primary eye care provider and is trained to examine, diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases and disorders of the eyes and visual system. They are generally your first line of medical assistance and guidance when it comes to your eyes, similar to that of your family doctor.
Optometrists perform approximately 80% of all primary vision and eye health exams in Canada. The tasks they take on during such examinations can include:
- Internal and external eye health evaluations
- Pupil reflex testing
- Pressure testing
- Depth perception testing
- Colour vision testing
As your first point of contact in regards to any questions or concerns you may have about your eye health or vision, optometrists will be there from diagnosis to care to potential referral. In addition to performing general eye check-ups, they will also assist you with such things as:
- Prescribing glasses and contact lenses
- Medical treatment (this could be as simple as recommending you to use eye drops)
- Correcting or improving vision
- Low vision therapy
- Managing tear ducts (ensuring they’re not too dry or plugged)
- Removing foreign bodies from your eyes
Ophthalmologists
While accessing an optometrist is as simple as reaching out and booking an appointment, it’s a bit more tricky to speak with an ophthalmologist, as they actually require a referral from your optometrist. They are often seen as surgeons of the eye, tackling any issues that cannot be solved without invasive measures. However, these specialists can do more than just eye-related surgeries; technically speaking, they are also qualified to handle any roles that optometrists do. However, this is rather rare, as they tend to stick to their more surgical responsibilities.
The Canadian Ophthalmology Society recommends seeing an ophthalmologist if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Significant loss of vision
- Physical changes to the eye
- Changes in vision (blurry faces, sudden spots, flashes of light, double vision, etc.)
- Changes in the field of vision (shadows, black spots, etc.)
Your optometrist will be able to analyze or detect these issues during a standard eye exam, after which they will direct you to an ophthalmologist. Issues such as detached retinas or tumours will need to be addressed quickly, so having a direct referral will speed up the process. Ultimately, both optometrists and ophthalmologists have their strengths. However, you will likely be turning to an optometrist first, before perhaps being referred to an ophthalmologist for specialized treatment and insight.
Deepa Mahar is an independent blogger and admin of DeepAdvices who is exploring the beauty of the blog writing from a variety of subjects and books to health, science and others. She believes the blog would be helpful to the reader in the context of knowledge. She is post-graduated with a degree of Biotechnology.
