Advanced Eye Care talks Eye Care 101 – LIVING WELL Magazine

Eye Care 101: Knowing Who Does What On Your Eye Care Team

By Debi Goss, Advanced Eye Care, Denton LIVING WELL Magazine 

As an office manager of an ophthalmology practice that has all the members of an “eye” team, I’m often asked what the difference is between the “doctors.” Aren’t they all doctors? The answer: No. Eye care professionals serve patients in a variety of different ways, and patients need to be knowledgeable about what services they are receiving. The differences in education, training and credentials among opticians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists determine the services they can provide. Opticians provide the most limited amount of service while ophthalmologists provide all services of eye care leaving the optometrist working in the middle. At Advanced Eye Care Center, our goal is to provide a complete family of eye care professionals to meet patients’ needs in one location. Our newest member of the team specializes in LASIK eye surgery, dry eye syndrome, and cornea disease.

OPTICIANS

Opticians assist in fitting patients with eyeglasses and contact lenses, following prescriptions written by optometrists or ophthalmologists. They measure patients’ eyes, recommend frames and lenses, and reshape eyeglass frames to fit properly. When licensed to do so, opticians also can fit contact lenses.

OPTOMETRISTS (OD)

Optometrists provide routine, primary vision care. They examine eyes to detect vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, and diagnose eye diseases such as glaucoma. They also test patients’ depth and color perception, as well as their ability to focus and coordinate eye function. They prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses, and in some states administer and prescribe medications to help diagnose vision problems and treat certain eye disease under the direction of an ophthalmologist.

OPHTHALMOLOGISTS (MD)

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in all aspects of eye health. They provide primary eye care services including eye exams and prescribe medications and perform surgical procedures, such as laser surgery and lens replacement. Using both surgical and non-invasive techniques, ophthalmologists diagnose and manage eye diseases, conditions, and disorders, and treat and repair eye injuries. Ophthalmologists also further their education to concentrate on certain eye diseases like a corneal specialist or a retina specialist. These physicians are sub-specialists in the field of ophthalmology.

At Advanced Eye Care Center, Lawrence A. Shafron, M.D., and his staff are available to provide you with a comprehensive eye exam. Schedule your appointment by calling 940-382-8000 today.