It’s important to have your eyes checked by a professional on a regular basis to monitor eye health. Catching problems early helps preserve as much vision as possible. But because there are several different kinds of vision specialists, it can be hard to know who to see. Will you be best served by an ophthalmologist or an optometrist? When should you talk with a low vision optometrist or occupational therapist? Knowing the roles of the different kinds of professionals on your eye care team is important to maintaining your eye health.
An optometrist is a professional with a doctoral optometry degree. They are often the best choice for routine eye and vision care. While they are often referred to as eye doctors, they do not hold medical degrees. An optometrist gives primary vision care through eye exams and vision tests and can prescribe corrective glasses and lenses. They can often detect some basic abnormalities in your eyes; however, if you have more complex vision needs, you should visit an ophthalmologist.
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor with years of medical training in diagnosing and treating a wide range of eye diseases. They can even perform many types of eye surgery. Some ophthalmologists will specialize in specific diseases or areas, such as glaucoma or pediatric eye diseases. As medical doctors, they may also be able to recognize other health conditions that aren’t directly related to the eye, and they can refer those patients to the correct type of specialist for further treatment.
Optometrists and ophthalmologists often work together in the same offices, where they can work as a team to address a patient’s eye health. You can learn more about the difference between optometrists and ophthalmologists on the American Academy of Ophthalmology website at AAO.org/Eye-Health/Tips-Prevention/What-Is-Ophthalmologist.
In addition to receiving medical treatment for eye conditions, it can also help to see a specialist trained in helping people with vision loss continue to live as independently as possible.
A low vision optometrist is a specialist who helps patients maximize whatever remaining vision they have. Low vision optometrists have much of the same training as other optometrists, but with an extra one-year post-doctoral residency where they learn skills and tools that can help people with vision loss navigate daily living. Low vision optometrists can provide exams to determine what glasses, adaptive equipment, magnifiers, lighting and other low vision aids the patient can benefit from.
Finally, occupational therapists (OTs) are professionals with specialized graduate degrees trained to help people with a variety of disabilities. OTs can then complete additional coursework, training and certification to provide training similar to that of a vision rehabilitation therapist. While they don’t have a medical degree, they often work in a clinic setting, and their services may be covered by insurance.
All of these professions often work together in tandem to help people with vision loss get the best treatment for their needs. They can be found in clinics and hospitals and as independent contractors in your community. Vision rehabilitation specialists, like those on the Council’s Vision Services team, are a different type of low vision provider who work closely with eye doctors and other vision professionals to ensure the needs of people who are blind or low vision are met as fully as possible.