Who You Need To Know To Care For Your Eyesight

By Donald C. Bartnick, CMPE, CEO

Maryland Eye Associates

. http://marylandeyeassociates.com

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Who You Need To Know To Care For Your Eyesight

There is a lot of discussion about the delivery of healthcare in the United States and about its cost. Regular eye examinations are a cost effective way for you to maintain your visual heath. Our eyesight is a precious gift. Regular vision care helps to protect your eyesight and your general health and well-being. January is the month when you should schedule your regular eye examination.
Unless directed otherwise by your doctor, you should have a routine vision care appointment with an ophthalmologist or optometrist every other year. Some physical conditions require more frequent visits to your eye doctor, regular treatment, or surgery. Follow the directions of your doctor.
There are different kinds of eye care experts and the terms can sometimes be confusing. It is important for you to understand those differences and select the expert best equipped to perform those services you need.
Ophthalmologist
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD or DO). In general, he or she has completed four years of college, four years of medical school and four years of post-graduate residency training, three of which are in the specialty of ophthalmology. The ophthalmologist must be licensed in the state. He or she is licensed as a medical doctor to perform eye examinations and prescribe lenses or other corrective treatments. He or she is authorized to prescribe and/or dispense medicine or drugs for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. He or she is a surgeon trained to perform invasive ocular procedures to protect and restore vision. An ophthalmologist can provide complete eye examinations, laser vision correction, medical and surgical treatment of cataracts, diabetic eye complications, glaucoma, macular degeneration, ocular plastic surgery and related vision care services. Some ophthalmologists pursue additional training by performing a fellowship. These physicians become subspecialists and are more equipped to treat certain diseases and eye care problems. In addition to treating patients in their office or an ambulatory surgery center, ophthalmologists usually have privileges to treat patients in a hospital setting. The ophthalmologist is the medical doctor to whom the optometrist must refer patients with problems requiring surgery or treatment beyond the optometrists licensure limitations.
An ophthalmologist becomes Board Eligible when he or she successfully completes the educational requirements at an approved institution. The board eligible physician achieves Board Certification when he or she passes a written and oral multiple-day test and demonstrates to a panel of experienced, board certified ophthalmology experts that he or she exhibits the knowledge and clinical expertise to warrant becoming a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology.
Optometrist
An optometrist is a vision care expert who has completed at least four years of college level study and four years at an accredited college of optometry, having earned the degree of Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) An optometrist must be licensed to practice in the state and must pass an examination to become licensed. In general, a licensed optometrist can perform an optometric examination that includes reviewing the patients history, a visual analysis, ophthalmoscopy of the internal eye, tonometry without an anesthetic agent when indicated (usually the puff of air test), a muscle balance examination and provide a prescription for glasses or contact lenses. The optometrist should provide follow up progress care as needed. Optometrists usually provide care in their offices.
An optometrist may use a topical ocular Diagnostic Pharmaceutical agent (DPA) if the optometrist provides evidence to the State Board of Examiners in Optometry that he or she has the required education and experience to safely use topical pharmaceutical agents for diagnostic purposes but not as a treatment. These optometrists are DPA Certified.
Some optometrists are “Therapeutically Certified.” This means that they have demonstrated to the State Board of Examiners in Optometry that they have the necessary training and experience to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents or remove superficial foreign bodies from the eye. TPA certified Optometrists are licensed to administer certain drugs for treatment purposes.
Optician
An optician is a professional specifically trained to assist you in selecting and fitting high quality lenses and fashion frames. He or she reads prescriptions for visual correction, orders lenses and dispenses spectacles and contact lenses. Opticians usually provide services in an optical store or in office space shared with an ophthalmologist or optometrist. In the State of Maryland, an optician may elect to become certified by passing certain certification tests. This is not a requirement in Maryland however. An optician cannot perform eye tests, use therapeutic agents or offer other vision care services.
Ophthalmologists, ptometrists, and opticians working together in concert to protect and restore your vision.