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Eye Care Services
What is the difference between an Optometrist, Ophthalmologist, and Optician ?
Optometrists, ophthalmologists, and opticians all provide eye care services. Optometrists differ from opticians (who sell, fit and adjust eyewear) and ophthalmologists (eye surgeons).
For the majority of individuals an OPTOMETRIST is the eye doctor of choice for routine eye health and vision examinations. Optometrists provide the majority of the primary eye care services in North America. They are trained to diagnose, treat, manage and prevent diseases and disorders of the eye and visual system. They also prescribe and provide treatment, including the dispensing and fitting of eyeglasses and contact lenses, vision therapy, low vision therapy, prescribing of topical medications to treat ocular surface disorders, removal of foreign bodies, referral to medical specialists for treatment of systemic disease or eye surgery, and co-management of ocular diseases with ophthalmologists.
An OPHTHALMOLOGIST is a medical doctor who has completed a residency in medical and surgical care of the eyes in an accredited hospital. Most ophthalmologists sub-specialize in surgery for a specific type of eye disease. Therefore, most surgical specialists will not accept new patients without a referral from an optometrist or physician. Today's optometrist has specialized ophthalmologists (surgeons) such as corneal specialists, retinal specialists, glaucoma specialists and oculoplastic surgeons on their eye health care team.
An OPTICIAN provides, fits and adjusts eyeglasses, contact lenses or low vision devices based on the prescription from an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Opticians develop their skills by working in an eyeglass store while completing a two-year college program (or four years part-time studies) after high school.
Dr. Jason Hershorn, Optometrist | St. Clair Optometry
Balmoral Medical Arts Facility
1366 Yonge Street | Toronto, Ontario M4T 3A7
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