By Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A.
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

OPTICIAN, OPTOMETRIST, OR OPHTHALMOLOGIST? – WHO TO SEE, TO SEE

Question: A few weeks ago, I went to my eye doctor, who is an O.D. She referred me to a D.O. who is also an ophthalmologist, because I may need eye surgery for my cataracts. Right next to my O.D.’s office there is an optician’s office, where I go to get my glasses. The person that I deal with in this office has a diploma on the wall saying that he has something called an A.A.S. degree. I’m totally confused by all these degrees and terms. Can you help explain the differences? Thanks.

Answer: Your question is a good one. These medical terms and degree abbreviations are, indeed, confusing. Because of the similar sounding names, many people are understandably confused about the difference between various eye-care professionals. Basically you can divide the territory into three kinds of practitioners: opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists.

First, let's talk about opticians. The man you described who dispenses your glasses is one of these professionals. As you know, he doesn't examine you or determine what kind of glasses you need; he’s the one who adapts and fits corrective eyewear, including eyeglasses and contact lenses, as prescribed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. The A.A.S. degree that he has is probably an associate’s -- or two year -- degree from a school accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation. Twenty-two states -- including Ohio -- require opticians to pass qualifying board exams and complete appropriate education before they can receive certification.

Optometrists graduate with an O.D. degree and are trained to examine your eyes and prescribe glasses and contact lenses. They are not physicians, but they do have significant training in the visual system, including diseases of the eye. Graduates of modern optometric colleges have four years of undergraduate education followed by four years of professional school.

For a number of years optometrists have used medications to help them examine patients’ eyes. Now, in all fifty states, optometrists can also legally prescribe medicine to treat eye conditions like infections and glaucoma.

An ophthalmologist has either an M.D. or a D.O. degree. He or she is a fully licensed physician who has completed additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the eye. An ophthalmologist can also perform eye surgery, like cataract removal and LASIK vision-correction procedures.
As your question testifies, my own degree -- the doctor of osteopathic medicine, or D.O. -- is often confused with the doctor of optometry degree, or O.D. As I mentioned earlier, D.O.s are physicians and treat all kinds of medical problems, like M.D.s. O.D.s are not physicians, but are highly skilled health-care providers who treat a wide variety of eye problems.

So, if you think you need glasses, should you see an optometrist (O.D.) or an ophthalmologist (D.O. or M.D.)? The choice is really yours. Both do an excellent job of examining the eye and prescribing corrective lenses -- either traditional glasses or contact lenses. These prescriptions are filled by the optician (A.A.S., or other similar degree). For surgical needs of the eye, though, you should see an ophthalmologist -- either by making an appointment or through referral from your optometrist.

Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, P.O. Box 110, Athens, Ohio 45701. Past columns are available online at http://www.FamilyMedicineNews.org.