What are the Differences?

Ophthalmologists (Oph-thal-mol-o-gist)
{Another term for ophthalmologist is Eye MD}
An ophthalmologist is a physician [Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)], who specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and visual system, and in the prevention of eye disease and injury. An ophthalmologist has completed four or more years of college premedical education, four or more years of medical school, one year of internship, and three or more years of specialized medical, surgical, and refractive training and experience in eye care. An ophthalmologist is a specialist who is qualified by lengthy medical education, training, and experience to diagnose, treat and manage all eye and visual systems, and is licensed by a state regulatory board to practice medicine and surgery. An ophthalmologist is a medically trained specialist who can deliver total eye care: primary, secondary, and tertiary (i.e., vision services, contact lenses, eye examinations, medical eye care, and surgical eye care), diagnose general diseases of the body, and treat ocular manifestations of systemic diseases.

Optometrists
An optometrist is a health service provider who is involved with vision problems. Optometrists are specifically educated and trained by an accredited optometry college in a four year course, but have not attended medical school. They are state licensed to examine the eyes and to determine the presence of vision problems. Optometrists determine visual acuity and prescribe spectacles, contact lenses, and eye exercises. Optometrists may perform all services listed under the definition of an optician. Some states permit optometrists to give limited treatments of some eye conditions.

Opticians
An optician is a technician who makes, verifies, and delivers lenses, frames, and other specially fabricated optical devices and/or contact lenses upon prescription to the intended wearer. The optician’s functions include prescription analysis and interpretation; determination of the lens forms best suited to the wearer’s needs; the preparation and delivery of work orders for the grinding of lenses and the fabrication of eyewear, 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.