When taking care of your eye health, you may have met an optician, optometrist, and/or ophthalmologist, but how well do you know the difference between them? Each of these eye care professionals has different education requirements, scopes of practice, and services provided. Understanding their roles can help you to know which one is best to address your concerns and needs about your eye health.*

What is the difference in education? 

An optician requires a certification from either a one-to-two-year program, such as an associate degree program in ophthalmic dispensing, or an in-house apprenticeship under an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

An optometrist completes a post-graduate optometry program (approximately four years to complete) with a curriculum that involves:

• Basic and advanced eye examination techniques
• Client case history and case studies
• Courses in natural science and pharmacology 
• Full-time clinic training as a resident for the past one to two years

An ophthalmologist must finish a full medical program and be accepted into an ophthalmology residency program that usually lasts four to seven years. 

The residency program includes training in:

• • Diagnosis and management of internal and external eye diseases
  • Training for eye disease subspecialties
  • Ophthalmic surgical training for all types of eye conditions

What services does each doctor provide?

An optician is unable to examine, diagnose, or treat diseases of the eye. They can, however:

• Refill and fill eye prescriptions (from optometrists or ophthalmologist)
• Measure, fit, and adjust eyeglass frames
• Help customers choose eyeglasses, contacts, or vision accessories 

Without a medical degree, an optometrist cannot perform all surgical procedures. They can, however:

• Conduct annual or routine eye exams
• Diagnose medical conditions
• Prescribe eyeglasses, contacts, visual aids, and controlled medications for the eye
• Perform minor surgeries (in some states)
• Provide post-surgical care

An ophthalmologist has the training to do all optometry services, in addition to:

• Perform eye surgery on many conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, and strabismus surgery     
• Provide medical and surgical treatment of all eye diseases
• Offer rehabilitation services after eye surgery 

How to choose the type of doctor you need 

Easily seen at your vision center or optometrist’s office, an optician is ideal if you need to have your eyeglasses or contacts filled or adjusted.

For routine eye care, such as an annual exam, schedule an appointment with an optometrist for a new prescription for your eyeglasses, contacts, or other visual aids.

For more serious conditions that may warrant surgery or medical treatment, schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist. Glaucoma, cataracts, and laser eye surgery are common reasons to see this type of eye care professional.  

*Lockett, E. (2019, Sept. 17). Optometrist vs. Ophthalmologist: What’s the Difference? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/optometrist-vs-ophthalmologist

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