What's The Difference Between An Optometrist and Ophthalmologist?

The difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist is a common source of confusion and despite what you may have heard, you do not need to see both! Optometrists are doctors who are trained to perform annual eye exams, detect eye diseases and prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses.

In contrast, ophthalmologists are doctors who have been fully trained in medical school. They can also prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses, but unlike their counterparts, they can diagnose, treat and perform eye surgery to correct and cure certain diseases of the eye. Ophthalmologists also have a general knowledge of other illnesses of the body as a result of their full medical training.

If you simply require a routine eye exam or need a new prescription for your eyeglasses or contact lenses, then the person to see would be an optometrist. If, however, you have a specific problem with your eyes resulting from disease, trauma or infection, then you will need to schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist who will be able to give you a complete exam and recommend a course of treatment, up to and including surgery.

Training for an optometrist includes completing a pre-professional undergraduate college education at an accredited college followed by 4 years of professional education in a college of optometry.

On the other hand, once a student studying to become an ophthalmologist has completed 4 years of medical school and then a year of internship, they must then spend a minimum of three years in a hospital-based residency in the field of ophthalmology.

The benefits of being an optometrist are many. Jobs in this field are expected to continue to grow well into 2010 and those that make the decision to be self-employed have much more flexibility when it comes to working hours and being able to take time off to be with family.

Anyone who wishes to be in the field of optometry must have an attention to detail and be able to run a business office with quality and efficiency.

To date, there are 14 schools and colleges of optometry in the United States that are accredited and requirements for admission do vary with each, so applicants are encouraged to investigate each school before making the decision to apply.

To investigate and gather more information on the various courses, you can do a search on search engines like Google and Yahoo. Spend some time for research before you make any decision.

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Click Here: http://www.cityoptics.com.sg