It’s certainly not uncommon for people to experience eye issues, whether they be slight visual disturbances or complete vision loss. Luckily, there are specialists on hand to help us manage our problematic eye issues! Although you might only be familiar with an optometrist in relation to eye care, an ophthalmologist also specialises in eye car – so then, what are the differences between these practitioners, and what kind of eye care do they provide? In this article, we take a look at these respective specialists to find out what the key differences between them are.

What an optometrist is all about

If you’re looking for an optometrist in Melbourne, chances are you’ll be spoiled for choice – in fact, in Australia optometry is the only profession to have consultations covered by Medicare without a referral! Basically, an optometrist is the first point of contact for people who are experiencing eye or vision problems. It is the job of the optometrist to then manage these issues the best they can, providing eye care and advice where needed. Essentially, optometrists are highly knowledgeable in relation to the optics of lenses, eye health and general visual performance. When a patient goes to an optometrist, it is the job of this specialist to assess, diagnose and manage all sorts of ocular diseases, injuries and disorders that develop in patient. They are also able to prescribe glasses and contact lenses in instances where it benefits the patient. Practicing optometrists are registered by the Optometry Board of Australia and have a relevant degree in optometry. It is only when a case is especially complicated that an optometrist then refers a patient to an ophthalmologist.

Why you’d need to see an ophthalmologist

Ophthalmologists are trained to manage highly specialist ocular and vision problems, and as such they have undertaken postgraduate medical training to specialise in eye health and vision. According to the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, an ophthalmologist is trained to “provide diagnostic, treatment and preventative medical services related to diseases, injuries and deficiencies of the human eye and associated structures.” With this in mind, ophthalmologists are trained to be able to manage any eye issue a patient might have, whether this might involve performing in-depth eye examinations, prescribing corrective lenses or diagnosing diseases and disorders of the eye. It is also possible for ophthalmologists to carry out any of the eye-related medical and surgical procedures necessary for the treatment of patients. The more advanced aspects of their work involve the prevention of blindness, promotion of overall eye health, and the rehabilitation of people with visual disability. As such, an ophthalmologist is the only person who is able to provide laser and surgical correction of eye disorders for patients.

What kind of eye care do you need?

Unless you are already suffering from a highly debilitating eye issue, it is usually the case that you will be first referred to an optometrist. For most people, this will allow them to receive all of the proper care that they need, such as having a prescription written and receiving eyeglasses. If from there they can see you need further health treatment, then they will be referred to an ophthalmologist, and from there they will receive the help they need.