Tips To Choosing The Right Eye Doctor

By Author: Retinasurgeon
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Choosing an eye doctor is an important decision which helps you preserve your eyesight. You need to trust the doctor to protect your sight and maintain good vision moving forward.

It is important to understand that one eye doctor cannot perform all your eye care needs, there are two types of eye doctors, an optometrist and an ophthalmologist. Then there are opticians. How do you know which one to choose and which is the right eye doctor for you?

An optometrist is an eye doctor who has a Doctor of Optometry degree. They examine your eyes for vision and health problems. They can correct refractive errors by prescribing eye glasses or contact lenses. They are licensed to treat certain eye problems and diseases

Both an optometrist and an ophthalmologist will examine eyes, prescribe eye classes and contact lenses. Optometrists are often involved in your pre and post operative care if you need eye surgery, which is performed by the ophthalmologist. They are not trained or qualified to carry out eye surgery.

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specialises in eye and vision care. They are trained to ...
... not only perform eye examinations and diagnose disease, but they can treat disease prescribe medications and carry out eye surgery. They will also prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses. An ophthalmologist must complete four years of college and four years of medical school. They do a year intern ship and a minimum of three years hospital residency.

An optician on the other hand is not an eye doctor. They are very important members of your eye care team. They take the prescription written by your eye doctor and they make and fit your eyeglasses or lenses. They need to complete training and be licensed.

If you are wondering which is the right eye doctor for you, then you need to identify if you need an optometrist or ophthalmologist. If you have healthy eyes and do not need any medical or surgical treatment, just a routine eye examination, then you will visit an optometrist.

Remember both an optometrist and ophthalmologist will perform routine eye examinations and both are eye doctors who are able to detect, diagnose and mange eye diseases for medical and non medical treatment. If you have an existing eye problem, such as macular degeneration, cataracts or glaucoma, then you want a highly trained eye doctor to help you preserve your eye sight. This means you want your eye doctor to be a specially trained ophthalmologist. Often your optometrist will refer you to a consultant ophthalmologist. to receive the treatment you need.

Being a medical eye doctor, an ophthalmologist can perform eye surgery with care for the eye problem being managed by an optometrist, using co management of your condition. This is when your optometrist refers you to an ophthalmologist for a detailed diagnosis and treatment plan. The condition may be medically treated or you may be offered surgery, in some cases you may be offered both.

When it comes to choosing an eye doctor you need to now what will happen if a problem is detected and requires treatment. Who do they refer you to? The eye doctors affiliations and memberships can help indicate their expertise. Always use recommendations as a way to identify the best eye doctor for you based on medical recommendation, along with recommendations from family and friends.

About Us: Mahi Muqit is a leading consultant ophthalmologist, cataract and vitreoretinal surgeon at two private clinics in London, United Kingdom. He provides patients with superior service and support with a range of surgical procedures to meet their eye sight requirements. He has built up a solid reputation for his eye services in the London area as an expert eye doctor and surgeon offering surgical retina, medical retina and complex cataract surgery. He also offers surgery to patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy. Mahi Muqit is a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, a member of the British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons and the UK and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. To find out more, visit http://www.retinasurgeon.uk.com