Deciding on where to go for an eye exam can be a confusing process. Several trained eye specialists use the title "doctor," which does not always indicate that the person is a medical doctor. However, many people don't need to see a medical doctor for an eye exam. Professionals who are not medical doctors but who use the title "doctor" often have years of training and all the knowledge necessary for a general eye exam. In other cases, a medical specialist who concentrates on a certain area of the eye may be needed.
Optometrists
Optometrists, highly trained specialists in eye care, don't attend medical school. Their degree, obtained after attending a four year accredited school of Optometry after college, qualifies them as O.D.s, or Doctors of Optometry. Only 17 such schools exist in the United States, according to Eye Care Source, and competition for admission is high. Optometrists test eyes, prescribe eyewear and treat eye problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, the Cleveland Clinic explains. For people without significant eye problems, a Doctor of Optometry provides all the eye care they need. Optometrists must pass a state board examination after graduation and maintain their licensure to practice. They may work independently or in hospitals, clinics or franchises. Some specialize after graduation. Optometrist cannot perform surgery or laser treatments.
Ophthalmologists
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors, known as M.D.s or doctors of osteopathy, called D.O.s. Ophthalmologists specialize in the eye after graduation from medical school, a residency that takes an additional three years. Ophthalmologists are licensed medical doctors who can perform surgery and diagnose and treat any problems of the eye. Most ophthalmologists practice in medical groups, work for hospitals or have their own practice. People with eye problems that require medical attention see an ophthalmologist, or possibly an ophthalmologist who further specializes in the part of the eye they're experiencing difficulty with.
Ophthalmology Specialists
A number of ophthalmologists specialize in specific areas of the eye, completing fellowships of several years in one training area. Examples of ophthalmic specialists include retinal specialists, who diagnose and treat diseases of the retina, the portion of the eye responsible for vision and corneal specialists, who treat the cornea, the transparent dome shaped covering of the eye. Other specialists include neuro-ophthalmologists, who specialize in diseases of the eye that relate to neurological problems, glaucoma specialists and ophthalmologists who specialize in oculoplastics, treatment of diseases that affect the structures around the eye.
