Optometrist vs. ophthalmologist: How to choose an eye doctor

Choosing an eye doctor is an important health care decision. Your eye doctor will help you see as clearly as possible and protect your vision — the sense people say they fear losing more than any other.

Optometrist vs. ophthalmologist 

The first step in your decision is to understand there are two types of eye doctors — optometrists and ophthalmologists — and to know the differences between the two.

What is an optometrist?

An optometrist is an eye doctor who has earned the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree and specializes in eye and vision care. To become an optometrist in the United States, a candidate typically must earn a four-year college degree in the sciences and then attend an accredited school or college of optometry and obtain a four-year OD doctorate degree.

Most optometrists provide the following services:

• Perform routine eye exams

• Prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses

• Perform contact lens fittings

• Diagnose eye health problems

• Medically manage many eye diseases, infections and injuries

In addition, some optometrists:

• Perform eye exams before and after cataract surgery and LASIK

• Provide low vision exams and services

• Prescribe and supervise vision therapy

With few exceptions, optometrist eye doctors are not trained or licensed to perform eye or vision surgery.