Most people wonder whom to visit when they have vision problems. Initially, you need to understand the different types of eye doctors and the services they offer in order to clear your mind of any uncertainties. There are three main eye specialists whom one can consult and they include: ophthalmologist, optometrist and optician. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who have been trained to provide both medical and surgical eye care. They have undergone four year training in medical school plus a one year internship and three year training in ophthalmology.
Ophthalmologists can opt to add one extra year for a subspecialty area in eye care like glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology or refractive ophthalmology. Ophthalmologists offer the following services: eye check-ups, diagnosing and treating eye problems, prescribing medications, contact lenses and sunglasses. They also perform eye surgeries on various eye defects. Individual eye care institutions such as the Sydney Eye Hospital are known to have the best ophthalmologists.
The second most important eye doctor is known as an optometrist, this type of doctor has graduated from optometry school. But he or she never attends medical schools like ophthalmologists. He or she is trained to examine, diagnose, treat and manage eye diseases, injuries and disorders. The degree training program in optometry takes four years and persons who attain the degree are licensed by the state in which they practise eye care.
Optometrists are authorised to prescribe glasses, contact lenses, diagnosing and treating patients with certain ocular diseases. The third important eye doctor is an optician; opticians are professionals who have a two year technical degree that enables them to work in an optometrists or ophthalmologists office. Opticians are authorised to interpret prescriptions, fit eyeglasses or contact lenses and takes eye measurements in order to ensure that the eyeglasses fit properly. The Sydney eye hospital is one of the best eye care centres where one can get the above services.
