If you’re interested in eye health, you’ll benefit from understanding the three types of eye care professionals. Once you’ve discovered this trio of eye care professionals, you’ll be able to decide which sort of pro is right for your needs. Some people rely on all three experts in order to get the eye care that they need, while others visit only one type, or two.
Everyone is different and our definitions of each type of eye expert should give you a good sense of the role of each occupation.
Without further ado, let’s talk about what each type of eye care professional can do to help you maintain vision and eye health:
Learn about Optometrists
Optometrists are primary eye care providers that perform eye examinations, give out prescriptions for corrective lenses or eye drops, and offer treatments for eye diseases. Each country has its own standards for optometrist certifications. In Canada, optometrists must study for 7 to 8 years at university before they are able to qualify as Doctors of Optometry. Qualifications must also be kept up-to-date if optometrists wish to continue working in their chosen fields over the long term.
If you want to get your vision checked, think that you might need a prescription for glasses and/or contact lenses or wish to seek out treatment for a suspected or diagnosed eye disease, you’ll benefit from booking an appointment with a certified optometrist in your Orleans.
What Do Opticians Do?
Opticians are also referred to as dispensing opticians and they are specially trained in order to create and fit eyeglasses and contacts. Any optician who operates in Canada requires licensure via an accredited ophthalmic institute. In addition, this type of eye care professional will need to be registered with Ontario’s regulatory agency and be licensed to perform ophthalmic dispensing.
British Columbia has different rules. In this province, opticians have the power to write eye prescriptions and to perform diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders – in the other provinces and territories, only optometrists may perform these tasks.
Important Facts about Ophthalmologists
Ophthalmologists are eye doctors who have licensure which grants them the ability to check vision levels and monitor the health of patient’s eyes. As well, they have the skills and licensure to perform surgery on eyes and to administer care before and after eye surgery. In order to become an ophthalmologist in Canada, a person must finish a residence which lasts at least five years. During the final twenty-four months of a residency, this type of doctor must perform detailed surgical training. A lot of doctors of this type extend their residencies by one to two years in order to become experts at operating on specific parts of the human eye.
Now that you know the three types of eye care professionals, you’ll be ready to choose the one which is right for your needs. Sometimes, these pros work together, as medical teams, in order to help their patients.