Are you looking for an eye doctor in Avon Indiana? There are different types out there, so it can get a bit confusing as to who you should visit. Read on for a quick guide on the different types of eye doctors.
About Opticians
Opticians will help people select and fit their prescription eyeglasses correctly. They can also assist you on what eyeglass frames to get, along with the specific kinds of lenses and coatings to avail.
Opticians will work from orders given by ophthalmologists and optometrists, but they can’t conduct eye exams or write prescriptions. They don’t treat or diagnose eye problems.
About Optometrists
Optometrists are healthcare professionals that offer various kinds of vision care that range from sight tests and correction down to diagnosing, treating, and managing any changes in vision.
Note that optometrists are not doctors. Rather, they receive a doctor of optometry degree once they complete four years of college and another four years of optometry school.
Licensed optometrists can practice optometry, which mainly involves conducting vision tests and eye exams. Furthermore, they can also prescribe and dispense corrective lenses, as well as medication for specific eye diseases. While they can detect certain eye abnormalities, they will refer you to an ophthalmologist or other appropriate specialist for further tests and diagnosis.
About Ophthalmologists
Ophthalmologists are medical or osteopathic doctors who specialize in both eye and vision care.
These types of eye doctors are different compared to opticians and optometrists in terms of their levels of training and the eye conditions they can diagnose and treat. Since ophthalmologists are medical doctors that completed college and eight or more years of medical training, they are licensed to practice medicine and perform surgeries.
Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat all eye diseases, perform eye surgeries, as well as prescribe and fit contacts or eyeglasses for vision correction. They may also be conducting scientific research on the causes and cures of vision disorders and eye diseases.
Furthermore, ophthalmologists may specialize in specific areas of surgical or medical eye care. This is known as a subspecialist who completed 1-2 years of fellowship, more in-depth training on a certain subspecialty area, which are:
- Retina
- Cornea
- Glaucoma
- Pediatrics
- Plastic surgery
- Neurology
- And more
With the additional training and knowledge, the subspecialist can help treat complex conditions in specific patients or areas of the eyes.
So if you’re looking for an affordable eye exam from places like Dr. Tavel Family Eye Care, you can head to an optometrist or ophthalmologist. You cannot have an optician conduct eye exams or detect any eye conditions.
If ever you experience serious symptoms in your eye, such as eye pain, excessive tearing, eye-bulging, misaligned eyes, loss of side vision, among other symptoms, then we recommend visiting an ophthalmologist. For those who experience slight eye pain or vision changes, you can visit an optometrist.
Wrapping It Up
We hope you are now more familiar with the different kinds of eye doctors and medical professionals. This will help you know which eye doctor you must visit based on your current condition.