How to choose a Eye Doctor
Choosing an eye doctor is one of the important decisions you make in your life. After all, it is him you trust to safeguard your precious sense called sight and help you maintain a healthy eye vision throughout your life. In this post step by step, we try to explain to you that there are two types of eye doctors namely the optometrists and the ophthalmologists. We would also explain about the third “O” in eye care the Opticians.
Who is an Optometrist?
An eye doctor who has earned the degree of Optometry degree is called an Optometrists. They examine your eyes for both health problems and the vision. They also help in correcting refractive errors by prescribing contact lenses and eye glasses. Some of them also provide vision therapy and low vision care.
Who is an Ophthalmologist?
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor or an Osteopathic doctor who specializes in eye care and vision care. They are trained to perform eye exams, diagnose and also treat and prescribe medications. They are also qualified to perform eye surgeries and write prescriptions for contact lenses and eyeglasses.
Who Is an Optician?
An optician is not an eye doctor but plays a major role in the entire eye care team. They use the prescriptions written by an ophthalmologist or an optometrist to fit and then sell eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Which eye Specialist should I Visit?
If your eyes are healthy and do not require any specialized surgical or medical treatment, then you might choose either of the doctors. Both optometrists and ophthalmologists perform routine eye check-ups, and both are trained to diagnose and manage eye diseases that require medical treatment or non-medical treatment. If you have been diagnosed with one of the problems like cataract, muscular degeneration, or glaucoma it is important to seek an eye doctor who is skilled in monitoring and also treating the condition. In such cases, your optometrist might refer to a colleague ophthalmologist who is a specialist in treating your condition.
In many cases, both Optometrist and Ophthalmologist may be required to deal with the situation. This arrangement is called co-management. This type of solution is advisable when you are already happy with the quality of eye care you are receiving from the primary eye care doctor, but at the same time, you are looking for a particular eye condition treated by an experienced specialist.
It is important to know that if you have medical insurance, and it covers eye care, it is imperative to know if he/she is an authorized provider under the insurance plan. The best way to find a best ophthalmologist in Chennai is to do a research on his experience and practice and find out if all the above mentioned criteria full fills.
