Who is an Optometrist, Ophthalmologist and Optician?
Optometrist, also called Doctor of Optometry, study for 4 years to complete the degree of Doctor of Optometry at a medical school. They are not medical doctors. They are primary health care specialists and their job is to examine the eyes to detect any ocular disease, abnormality, signs of injury, visual defects and ocular complications associated with other diseases. Optometrists do not prescribe medicines and conduct surgery. Ophthalmologist is the medical doctor of eye. They study for 5 years to complete the degree of medicine and surgery followed by specialization in the field of eye. They detect and treat ocular injuries, visual defects, signs of injury and ocular disease. They prescribe medicines and conduct surgery. Opticians are not medical doctors. They neither diagnose nor treat any ocular and visual condition. Their job is to follow the instructions of ophthalmologist and optometrist to provide glasses and lenses.
