The difference between the fields of optometry and ophthalmology are sometimes confusing to the layperson. The problem is compounded by the fact that not only do the two fields deal with eye care, but ophthalmologists and optometrists are often both called eye doctors. The distinctions between them are quite notable, however. Here is some information about the two "doctors."
An optometrist, while receiving a Doctor of Optometry degree, is only licensed to practice optometry and not medicine. To become an optometrist, a person must complete four years of professional education at a college of optometry after earning his or her undergraduate degree. Technically then, an optometrist is not a doctor. Optometry involves giving eye examinations and prescribing the use of glasses and contacts as a remedy for nearsightedness, astigmatism, farsightedness, and presbyopia, as well as the detection and non-surgical treatment of certain eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal diseases. The specific scope of the field varies from state to state, as some states have stricter rules about pharmaceutical use than others.
An ophthalmologist, on the other hand, has a much broader practice. Ophthalmologists are M.D.s (Doctors of Medicine) that specialized in vision care and are qualified to provide any kind of eye care--from prescribing corrective lenses to performing eye surgery. Their education consists of four years of college, four years of medical school, one or more years of medical or surgical training, three or more years of a residency program, and frequently a few more years of subspecialty training and/or research.
There are a variety of ophthalmic subspecialties. One is the study of cornea and external diseases which deals with corneal dystrophies, microbrial infections, inflammatory processes, conjunctival tumors, and anterior ocular signs of systemic diseases and may necessitate corneal transplant surgery. The treatment of glaucoma is another, as is training in neuro-ophthalmology, the study of the relationship between neurologic and ophthalmic diseases.
Ophthalmic pathology is a unique subspecialty that entails training in the field of pathology as well as ophthalmology. Ophthalmic plastic surgery is another and includes reconstructive procedures after cases of tumors, trauma, and cosmetic lid surgery. Pediatric ophthalmology deals with developmental abnormalities of people twenty years of age and younger, and the subspecialty of vitreoretinal diseases involves a variety of treatment methods to cure diseases that affect the vitreous and retina.
So while optometrists are qualified only to prescribe corrective lenses, ophthalmologists have full medical training and thorough clinical and surgical experience in a variety of subfields.
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