If you are experiencing blurred vision, difficulty reading street signs or billboards, dry eyes, burning or stinging sensation, or any degree of vision loss or acuity, schedule an appointment with an eye care professional. Many people don’t thoroughly understand the difference between an optician, an ophthalmologist, or an Optometrist in Wichita KS. Of these three, the optician is the only one that is not a doctor, but nonetheless, still a vital team member when it comes to eye care.
An optometrist first completes a four-year degree in science followed by another four years of post-graduate study at an optometry school. An optometrist can diagnose and prescribe medications to treat various eye diseases and conditions, perform eye exams, and prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses. Generally, optometrists do not perform surgical eye procedures.
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor that specializes in eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists conduct eye exams, diagnose and prescribe medications to treat eye diseases and also prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses. Ophthalmologists, because of their advanced schooling and training, can perform eye surgery.
So, unless you need specialized care or surgery, the choice to visit an optometrist or ophthalmologist really just comes down to personal preference. An optometrist in Wichita KS may treat common eye afflictions like dry eyes or infections and chronic eye conditions such as glaucoma. Chronic eye conditions like glaucoma, however, require the services of an ophthalmologist.
In many instances, a patient’s care is co-managed by a team consisting of an optometrist and an ophthalmologist working together. In these cases, the optometrist refers the patient to an ophthalmologist, who provides the exact diagnosis and prescribes the treatment plan. The ophthalmologist may decide to treat the condition with medications or surgery, or both. Once the condition is addressed or under control, the ophthalmologist turns the patient back to the care of the optometrist, for continuing care or monitoring.
Not only can the optometrists at Business Name perform routine eye exams and diagnose eye diseases and conditions, they can address common vision problems such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism. They can detect early signs of glaucoma, cataracts, retinal problems, and even high blood pressure and diabetes. The latter often detected long before being diagnosed by the patient’s primary care physician.
