MD Vs. OD Eye Exam

Your vision is one of your most priceless assets. You know you need to have regular eye exams to preserve the gift of sight. But how do you choose between several different types of eye professionals?

Types

• The three main types of eye care professionals include optometrists (O.D.), ophthalmologists (M.D.) and opticians. An optician is not an eye doctor, but a technician who fills written prescriptions for eyeglasses or contact lenses. Optometrists and ophthalmologists are eye doctors.

Optometrists

• An optometrist is a doctor of optometry (O.D.). This type of eye doctor is qualified to perform general eye exams, examining for both vision and health problems. Some provide low vision care and vision therapy.

Ophthalmologists

• An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (M.D.). Ophthalmologists can perform full eye exams and many different types of eye surgery. They can also diagnose and treat diseases of the eye and prescribe medication.

M.D. vs. O.D.

• Both types of eye doctors can perform complete eye exams. They are both trained to detect diseases that may require medical treatment. However, if you know you have an existing medical problem with your eyes, such as cataracts, glaucoma or macular degeneration, you may need the highly skilled medical care provided by an M.D. If your O.D. discovers you need eye surgery, he will refer you to an M.D.

Considerations

• If your eyes are healthy, the type of eye doctor you choose is up to you. But if you have any medical problems affecting your eyes, or suspect that you may have this type of problem, remember that only an ophthalmologist can provide the full range of treatment options, including surgery.