WHAT IS AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST?

If you need surgery on your eyes, chances are that you would go to see an ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor that specializes in ophthalmology, which is the science that deals with the structure, functions, and diseases of the eye, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of such diseases. Thus, ophthalmologists help correct vision difficulties often with medication and/or surgery.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST AND AN OPTOMETRIST?

Unlike ophthalmologists, optometrists do not have an MD (medical doctor degree). Rather, optometrists earn a Doctor of Optometry degree. The distinction is somewhat blurry (no pun intended). Both ophthalmologists and optometrists diagnose and treat eye diseases, but ophthalmologists focus much more on eye surgery. There are some optometrists who can perform certain eye surgeries, but this is done in very limited circumstances, and generally after being trained by an ophthalmologist. Optometrists generally focus on prescribing eyeglasses and contact lenses and provide most people’s primary vision care. Both ophthalmologists and optometrists can prescribe medications to diagnose and treat eye diseases. However, ophthalmologists have more free range to prescribe medications, as they hold a more general medical degree.

HOW DOES SOMEONE BECOME AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST?

To become an ophthalmologist, one needs to graduate college and attend four years of medical school. The medical doctor must then do a full year of supervised training known as an internship. Once the medical doctor has completed the internship, he/she needs to pass a series of national tests. The medical doctor then has to get a medical license in the state that he/she will be seeing patients and a license to practice in that state. After 3 more years of specialized training in ophthalmology, the medical doctor becomes an ophthalmologist. You can read more about the field of ophthalmology by going to the American Academy of Ophthalmology website.

WHAT IS A BOARD CERTIFIED OPHTHALMOLOGIST?

Any ophthalmologist can apply to the American Board of Ophthalmology, to become board certified. This means that the ophthalmologist has 14 years of higher education and 6 years of experience practicing as a medical doctor (with 5 of those years specializing in medical and surgical problems of the eye). The ophthalmologist that is board certified has been agreed upon by a board (group) of peers (other ophthalmologists) to meet the rigorous standards necessary to practice ophthalmology, and has achieved the highest level of education possible in this field.

WHAT ELSE IS AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST CALLED?

An ophthalmologist is also known as an oculist.

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE WORD, OPHTHALMOLOGIST?

Ophthalmologist comes from the Greek word "opthalmos" meaning "eye," and the Greek word "logos" meaning "the study of." Put the two words together and you have "the study of (the) eye."