Who should I make an appointment with: an ophthalmologist or an ophthalmologist?

There are many professional terms in medicine that may not be clear to the average person. Sometimes this makes it somewhat difficult to choose the right specialist. Quite often the question arises: what is the difference between an ophthalmologist and an ophthalmologist? In order to decide who to go to for an appointment, you need to carefully understand it.

If you rely on the sound of the words “ophthalmologist” and “ophthalmologist,” then the first seems more serious. That is why people have the opinion that such a doctor is a more experienced specialist. But this is not true at all.

What is the difference between an ophthalmologist and an ophthalmologist?

An ophthalmologist and an ophthalmologist are doctors who treat eye diseases. However, there is an opinion that they specialize in different areas of medicine. In particular, many people are convinced that ophthalmologists are therapeutic doctors who diagnose eye diseases and prescribe conservative treatment, while ophthalmologists specialize in surgical operations.

There is another opinion on the topic: what is the difference between an ophthalmologist and an ophthalmologist. Many people believe that ophthalmologists, unlike ophthalmologists, are doctors of higher qualifications, which means they are more trustworthy.

Both of these opinions are just common myths that have nothing to do with reality.

In fact, both terms are complete synonyms and mean a doctor who diagnoses and treats diseases of the eyes and auxiliary organs.

The presence of two synonymous terms is explained by the fact that they have different linguistic roots. The word "ophthalmologist" comes from the Latin oculus, and the term "ophthalmologist" from the Greek ophthalmos. Both words are translated as "eye".

Today, the term “ophthalmologist” is more widely used among specialists, while the concept of “ophthalmologist” is more familiar to ordinary people.

Eye test: how to choose the right doctor

The choice of an eye doctor should be approached with all responsibility. You trust him with the most precious thing you have - your eyesight. It is a good specialist who can help you maintain your quality of life for many years. First, it’s worth understanding the qualifications of doctors, since eye doctors come in three specialties – optometrists, ophthalmologists and optometrists.

What is an optometrist?

An optometrist is an eye specialist who holds a Doctor of Optometry degree. Optometrists examine common problems with the eyes - both vision itself and the condition of the organ, and also work with vision correction - selecting glasses and contact lenses. Some optometrists also provide low vision treatment and therapy to improve vision.

Optometrists in the United States are also licensed to prescribe medications to treat certain eye problems and diseases. Optometrists may also be involved in your pre- and post-operative care if you have eye surgery. With some exceptions, optometrists in the United States are not specifically trained or licensed to perform eye surgery.

To qualify as an optometrist, an American student must complete a four-year college degree program in the sciences, followed by another four years of post-graduate professional education in optometry school. So in the US, the educational requirements for an optometrist are very similar to what they require for dentists.

Like ophthalmologists, optometrists must continually update their knowledge, renew their license, and be aware of all standards of eye care.

What does an ophthalmologist do?

In the United States, an ophthalmologist is a general practitioner or osteopathic physician whose specialty is eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists are trained to examine eyes, diagnose and treat diseases, prescribe medications, and perform eye surgery. In addition, these specialists will help you choose glasses or contact lenses.

American ophthalmologists attend four years of college, four years of medical school, followed by a year of internship and a minimum of three years of residency in a hospital.

If we continue the comparison with dentistry, an optometrist receives the same education as a general dentist, and an ophthalmologist receives the same education as an oral surgeon.

What does an optician do?

An optometrist serves a slightly different role than the eye specialists mentioned above. However, its function in ensuring the quality of your vision is very important. Opticians select glasses and other vision correction products using exactly the prescriptions prescribed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

In the USA, the requirements for representatives of this profession vary - sometimes students need not only to master an optics training program, but also to obtain a license. And in some states, neither additional education nor a license is required. In some regions of America, you can select lenses only after completing a certification program.

Which doctor should I choose: an optometrist or an ophthalmologist?

If you do not have specific eye problems, you do not need surgery or other medical interventions, then you can choose any doctor that gives you confidence.

Optometrists, and the vast majority of ophthalmologists, perform routine eye examinations. Doctors from both specializations have acquired the appropriate knowledge to diagnose eye diseases and treat them, both with and without the use of medications.

In the same case, if you have a serious disease - glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration - then you need to contact a specialist who has the appropriate education, and most importantly, experience in working with such diseases. Treatment (medical or surgical) should be carried out by a specially trained ophthalmologist. If you come for an examination to a simple ophthalmologist, he can give you advice on which specialist for this disease you should contact.

Optometrists most often deal with general problems such as dry eyes, infections and some chronic diseases such as glaucoma. However, many diseases need to be treated by an ophthalmologist, especially if surgery or other specific measures are needed.

Sometimes optometrists and ophthalmologists work on the same team. In this case, the optometrist makes a referral to a specialist (usually an ophthalmologist) to confirm the final diagnosis and treatment plan. An ophthalmologist may prescribe medication or surgery, or both.

After surgery, the ophthalmologist will refer you to an optometrist, who can provide primary care, monitor your condition, and perform post-operative care as recommended by a specialist.

Working as a team between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist is a good solution if you are satisfied with the quality of care you receive from your primary care provider, but sometimes you need the help of a more experienced specialist.

Ophthalmologists and health insurance

If you have a health insurance policy that covers eye care or vision insurance, you need to consider whether the doctor will have all the necessary licenses and what your out-of-pocket costs for the examination will be.

You can find out all this information by calling your doctor's office and checking your insurance details. On the websites of most insurance companies they publish a list of specialists with whom they cooperate.

Most optometrists and ophthalmologists who work with families participate in the Medicare program for older patients. It's worth remembering that while Medicare covers your doctor's visits for needed medical care, it does not pay for routine eye exams.

If you have Medicare insurance, then routine eye exams and prescriptions for glasses are all at your expense. The solution is a vision insurance policy, which is also designed for routine vision tests.

However, Medicare will cover some of the costs if you already have vision problems (cataracts or macular degeneration). It is better to check with specialists for details.

It is also worth clarifying how insurance cases are processed. Will you have to pay for the test and then file the claim with your insurance company yourself, or will the doctor bill the insurance company themselves so you don't have to pay upfront?

If there is no insurance policy that covers eye care services, then it is worth finding out both the cost of the appointment and the cost of the examinations. Price is not the main factor when choosing an ophthalmologist, but it is still very important.

A few more important factors when choosing an eye doctor. Ask what might happen if a problem is identified that requires specific treatment. Which doctors and surgeons should you contact in this case?

It is important to take into account, among other things, the doctor’s experience in certain areas; for example, your doctor may be a member of the American Society of Retinal Specialists or the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. Some organizations have strict standards for membership or scholarship, such as the American Academy of Optometry.

And another important factor when choosing an ophthalmologist is the recommendations of your friends, relatives and colleagues. If a doctor’s name is passed on from mouth to mouth, it means he is worth it, and it is very likely that he is a competent and sensitive specialist, and communication with him will not be an unpleasant surprise.

Source: How to choose an eye doctor. By Gary Heitig. https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-doctor/choose.htm

Material may vary in writing style and length.

What diseases does an ophthalmologist treat?

Any pathologies of the eyes, eyelids and auxiliary organs, visual impairments are the field of interest of ophthalmology. It is impossible to list in one article what diseases an ophthalmologist treats, because a complete list may include hundreds of different diseases.

Here are just some of the pathologies that an ophthalmologist can help you cope with:

• myopia, astigmatism, farsightedness;
• cataract and glaucoma;
• color vision disorders (various types of color blindness);
• inflammatory pathologies of the eye membranes and accompanying organs (conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis);
• dry eye syndrome;
• any injuries to the visual organs.

An ophthalmologist conducts a diagnostic examination, prescribes treatment, and selects optical correction products. Ophthalmic surgeons may also perform eye surgery.

Sometimes ophthalmological disorders are not independent diseases, but a manifestation or complication of systemic pathology and hormonal changes in the body. Therefore, consultation and observation of an ophthalmologist is necessary for diabetes mellitus, complicated and normal pregnancy, hypertension, vascular and renal pathologies, and migraines.

How often should a child under 18 years old visit an ophthalmologist for preventive purposes?

The first appointment with a pediatric ophthalmologist should take place at the age of 1–2 months. During the appointment, the doctor examines the little patient, checks basic vision parameters, and, if necessary, refers for additional examination.

Next time, it is necessary to show the child to a specialist by the age of 3 – the time when binocular vision begins to form. This will allow you to detect refractive errors and prescribe therapy in a timely manner. In the future, it is recommended to undergo a preventive examination at least once a year.

When to contact an ophthalmologist?

Some categories of patients need to undergo regular scheduled examinations with an ophthalmologist once a year, six months, or more often (as recommended by a specialist). Young children, users of glasses or contact optics, patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension, people over 45 years of age, pregnant and lactating women, healthy people with a hereditary predisposition to ophthalmological pathologies should regularly visit an ophthalmologist.

In addition to routine examinations, the need to visit an ophthalmologist may arise if you have any eye problems:

• redness;
• tearfulness;
• painful sensations;
• dry eyes;
• blurred vision;
• narrowing of visual fields;
• the appearance of “flies” and other flashing objects before the eyes;
• sensation of sand or foreign body;
• discomfort when wearing contact lenses.

Any unpleasant symptom affecting the visual system requires mandatory consultation with an ophthalmologist.

How to prepare for your appointment

Before visiting an ophthalmologist you must:

• remember all complaints and clarify what eye diseases relatives suffered from;
• do not use eye cosmetics before your appointment;
• bring a medical history if the patient was observed by other specialists;
• Do not wear contact lenses on the day of your appointment (lenses should be replaced with glasses at least an hour before your appointment).

Before the appointment, the children must be explained the essence of the examination, since it is almost impossible to examine the eyes of a crying child.

Why are preventive examinations by an ophthalmologist necessary?

Even if you feel absolutely healthy, it is still advisable to undergo an annual examination by an ophthalmologist. It will once again confirm the normal functioning of the visual system or identify eye pathologies at an early stage, which is important for effective treatment.

Both children and adults should undergo preventive examinations by an ophthalmologist. In a young child, the visual system is still developing, and if the disorder is identified at an early stage, there is a high probability of restoring normal vision functions. The capabilities of modern ophthalmology make it possible to effectively treat childhood strabismus, binocular vision disorders, myopia and other pathologies. They can be identified during preventive examinations.

For adult patients, prevention of eye diseases is also important. With age, certain changes occur in the eyes, which can lead to a decrease in visual acuity, the development of macular degeneration, and pathological changes in the lens and retina.

Monitoring by an ophthalmologist will help to detect in time and, with the help of well-chosen therapy, slow down the pathological processes that lead to age-related vision loss.

Prevention of eye diseases during pregnancy is of particular importance. The period of bearing a child changes a woman’s hormonal levels, increases stress on the eyes, and can lead to a decrease in visual acuity and exacerbation of chronic diseases. An ophthalmologist for pregnant women is one of the most important specialists, because together with the gynecologist, he decides whether a woman can give birth on her own or whether a cesarean section will be required. With some eye pathologies, retinal detachment may occur during childbirth, so in some cases natural childbirth is contraindicated.

When should you contact an ophthalmologist during pregnancy? Typically, routine preventive examinations are provided every trimester. However, if the doctor detects a risk of retinal detachment, progressive myopia, or other pathologies that may threaten a woman's vision, he may schedule more frequent visits for the pregnant patient.

Who is a pediatric ophthalmologist?

An ophthalmologist diagnoses and treats vision pathologies in patients under eighteen years of age. The doctor’s specialization makes it possible to detect any abnormalities in a child, taking into account the peculiarities of the formation of a growing organism.

At the multidisciplinary clinic "President-Med", ophthalmologists are very attentive and professional in their approach to the problem of children's vision impairment. We understand perfectly well that a timely diagnosed and correctly treated disease is the key to a healthy, fulfilling, happy, colorful life. Therefore, our specialists have an individual approach to each little patient. Our doctors will quickly find a common language with your baby, prescribe the necessary set of diagnostic procedures, find out the causes of vision problems, and select the most effective treatment plan. Each consultation with an ophthalmologist for a child at the President-Med clinic will take place in a relaxed atmosphere, so your baby will not worry or worry about anything.

Doctors in this field

Routine examination of the child by an ophthalmologist

The first routine examination is carried out on an infant at the age of 2 months. The ophthalmologist determines how well the visual organs are developed, whether the child has strabismus or other pathologies; during the examination, the doctor uses special drops that are harmless to the baby, and the effect of their use completely disappears within two to three hours by the end of the examination. This is necessary for timely diagnosis of congenital cataracts, glaucoma, retinoblastoma and other eye diseases.

If a baby is born prematurely before the 34th week of pregnancy, he or she is at high risk of developing retinopathy. Serious complications of this disease include visual impairment, including blindness, and low vision. Therefore, premature babies undergo a routine examination ahead of schedule, at the age of one month. After the first routine examination, regular visits to the ophthalmologist are required every two weeks until the child reaches three months of age.

Further preventive examinations are carried out at 1 year, at 3 years before entering kindergarten and at the age of 6 years before school. After a child enters school, his visual system begins to be subjected to increased stress associated with studies, which determines the need for an annual scheduled examination subsequently.

The doctor prescribes an additional visit to the ophthalmologist depending on the condition of the visual organs and the changes that occur in them during development.

Cost of seeing an ophthalmologist

If you need a professional paid pediatric ophthalmologist in Moscow, the President-Med clinic employs experienced doctors with many years of experience. Current prices for ophthalmological services are presented in the price list. To get more detailed advice and make an appointment with a doctor, leave a request on the website.

We accept payment:

Also see on the topic:

• Pediatric urologist
• Dermatologist for children
• Paid baby ultrasound