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THE THREE O'S
all provide eye care services. Optometrists and ophthalmologists examine eyes
and prescribe vision correcting lenses. Opticians manufacture and dispense
corrective lenses. For the majority of individuals
an optometrist is the doctor of choice for routine eye health and vision
examinations. Today's modern Optometrist has
Corneal Specialists, Retinal Specialists, Glaucoma Specialists and Oculoplastic
Surgeons on their eye health care team. Patient co-management between
Optometrists, Ophthalmologists and Opticians is customary to provide the best in eye health care for their patients. The following descriptions may aid you in
selecting the eye care professional to meet your personal needs.
An optician makes, verifies and delivers lenses, frames
and other specially fabricated optical devices and/or contact lenses upon
prescription (from an optometrist or ophthalmologist) to the intended wearer.
The opticians' functions include prescription analysis and interpretation;
determination of the lens forms best suited to the wearers needs; the
preparation and delivery of work orders for the grinding of lenses and the
fabrication of eye wear, the verification of the finished ophthalmic products;
and the adjustment, replacement, repair and reproduction of previously prepared
ophthalmic lenses, frames and other specially fabricated ophthalmic devices.
Certification by the American Board of Opticianry or the National Contact Lens
Examiners is optional. Some states have regulatory agencies that license
OPTOMETRIST / OPTOMETRIC
Optometry or, optometric physicians are independent primary health care providers who specialize in the
examination, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and disorders of
the eye and associated structures as well as the diagnosis of
related systemic conditions. Optometric Physicians
prescribe and treat glaucoma, eye infections and eye inflammations.
They fit and dispense glasses and contact lenses, thus providing
total eye health and vision care for all ages.
Optometric physicians do not perform surgery. An optometric physician has completed four years of college premedical education and four
years of graduate education at an accredited College of Optometry, earning a Doctorate in Optometry.
Optometric physicians are
certified by a national board of examiners and licensed by a state regulatory
board. Dr. Thompson is an Optometric
The Ophthalmologist has the
degree Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and is a primary and secondary,
medical/surgical eye care provider. This Doctor has completed four years of
college, four years of medical school and four years of
residency and internships relating to the diagnosis and treatment, including
surgery, of diseases of the
may also perform intricate
surgical procedures including cataracts removal
and lens implant, corneal transplant, glaucoma surgery and various laser