What’s the difference between an optometrist and an opthalmologist? (and other eye issues)
What is the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist?
Many people have seen an optometrist at least once in their lives. It’s where you go to look through the giant lens holder and say “1”, or “2” to get your glasses. Right? Then what’s an ophthalmologist for?
An optometrist has been trained at an optometry school. They know how to follow the general health of your eye. They can determine if you need glasses or contacts, diagnose and treat certain eye problems, and can refer to ophthalmology if needed.
An ophthalmologist has gone to medical school, then done at least four years extra training. They are surgeons that can diagnose and treat eye diseases and conditions, and are able to perform surgery on the eye.
There’s a difference between lazy eyes (amblyopia) and crossed eyes (strabismus)?
Yes, there is a difference, but it can be hard to tell. If someone has amblyopia in an eye it means that eye has trouble with connections in the brain and is unable to see correctly. When it’s bad enough it can look like crossed eyes. Strabismus is when the eyes don’t move together due to some reason such as muscles, nerves, or parts of the brain.
Myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, what?
These are all ‘refractive errors’ or when the eye cannot focus well on the outside world. Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is when a child can see well up close but not far away. Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is when a child can see well far away, but not up close. Children with astigmatism have an abnormal curve in part of their eye that makes both near and far vision blurry.
What do I do if I think my child has an eye problem?
First, we recommend that your child has regular well checks with their pediatrician, which includes questions about vision and a vision screen if needed. Some children at that point will be referred to the optometrist or ophthalmologist as needed for the specific problem found. Some families with a history of vision problems will already have an optometrist that they can have check their children regularly. If you find a problem outside of regular appointments, go ahead and call your pediatrician or optometrist.
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