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Eye doctors and their types

An eye doctor is any medical specialist who treats eye or vision-related issues. There are two distinct types of eye doctors - ophthalmologists and optometrists.

An ophthalmologist is a medical physician who focuses on eye and vision care. They undertake comprehensive eye exams with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, allowing them to detect eye illnesses or other anomalies in their early stages – frequently before symptoms appear. Early discovery may lead to treatments that prevent visual loss. Ophthalmologists are medically trained physicians who are qualified to conduct surgeries.

Optometrists are eye care providers qualified to diagnose and treat eye-related concerns. They are eligible to perform vision exams, carry out vision rectifying treatment, and prescribe medications to manage eye diseases. Unlike ophthalmologists, they cannot perform surgeries as they hold a Doctor of Optometry degree and do not have medical training.

Unlike optometrists and ophthalmologists, opticians are technicians trained to fit contact lenses, eyeglasses, and other vision-correcting devices. People visit opticians after being prescribed corrective lenses by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. They are not qualified or trained to diagnose, treat, or prescribe medication for eye diseases.

Why should you visit an eye specialist?

Visiting an eye doctor near you routinely can help detect eye problems early on and help you protect your vision. It is espcially true for disorders that might cause blindness, such as age-related macular degeneration, ocular melanoma, and glaucoma.

Eye specialists can also guide a healthy lifestyle. You can safeguard your vision by eating eye-healthy foods, exercising regularly, and wearing sunglasses. Cigarette smoke, in particular, can exacerbate eye problems like cataracts and macular degeneration.

Conditions treated by eye doctors

Ophthalmologists and optometrists have the expertise to diagnose and treat various eye conditions. Let's have a detailed look at these conditions:

Cataracts: Cataracts are a condition in which the eyes become cloudy, and people experience vision similar to seeing through a fogged-up or frosty window. They can also cause trouble seeing at night, difficulty in reading, double vision in one eye, or fading or yellowing of colors. Most cataracts don't affect vision early on because they develop slowly. Fortunately, people can undergo cataract surgery to treat them.

Diabetic retinopathy: People with diabetes are at a greater risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, which is a complication affecting the eyes. The condition damages the retina's blood vessels and the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Affected people may not have symptoms or experience mild vision during its early stages. As the condition worsens, one may develop symptoms like blurred vision, dark or empty areas in your vision, fluctuating vision, or complete vision loss.

Dry eyes: Dry eyes are when tears become inadequate to lubricate the eyes for various reasons. As a result, the eyes can become inflamed, or its surface gets damaged. Moreover, people may experience a stinging or burning sensation. Other symptoms include difficulty wearing contact lenses, redness in the eyes, sensitivity to light, and eye fatigue or blurred vision.

Glaucoma: People have glaucoma when their optic nerve gets damaged due to a group of eye conditions. It often results from high eye pressure but can also occur with normal eye pressure. Moreover, glaucoma can affect any person at any age but is more common in older adults. It is also one of the leading causes of blindness in people over sixty. Most forms of glaucoma don't have any warning signs, and it gradually worsens until people notice the symptoms in the later stage.

When do you need to see an eye doctor?

Adults should see an eye specialist as soon as they experience any of the symptoms listed below:

• Vision impairment: Depending on the cause, vision loss in one or both eyes may necessitate rapid treatment. Vision loss is an eye issue or an underlying health problem that affects the brain's visual processing centers. With age, such eyesight problems become more common.
• Vision alterations: A change in your eyesight can happen for various causes, causing issues like casting shadows, bright flashes of light, double vision, blurry vision, light lines that are jagged, etc. Vision changes can indicate a severe underlying medical disease like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and ocular problems like macular degeneration, glaucoma, or cataracts.
• Changes in the eye's physical structure: Pain, redness, swelling, and discharge are examples of physical changes. Crossed eyes and eyes that turn in, out, up, or down are abnormalities.
• Color perception changes: Sudden changes in seeing or perceiving colors could suggest retinal damage. Glaucoma, retinal degeneration, vascular disease, or metabolic disorders are major underlying issues.
• Changes to your prescription: If you already wear prescription glasses, it's critical to have your vision checked every year to ensure you're using the right lenses. Although there is no damage in wearing the incorrect prescription, it might cause headaches and nausea if it is solid. It negates the purpose of using corrective eyewear if they are too weak.

How often should a person get an ophthalmic exam?

A standard ophthalmic exam, or a routine or comprehensive eye exam, is a complete series of eye tests performed by an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. Regular eye checkups can help avoid severe eye conditions and safeguard your and your family's vision and overall well-being. Since eye health varies according to the individual's age, you must schedule an eye exam with an eye doctor near you per the following:

For children

According to joint recommendations from the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), children should undergo their first basic eye checkup when they're newborns. Additionally, they should also get their vision screened at the following stages: 

1. Between ages 6 and 12 months
2. Between ages 12 months and 3 years 
3. Between ages 3 and 5 
4. Every 1 to 2 years after 5 years of age

These screenings will help determine whether a more comprehensive checkup is required.

For adults

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) suggests that adults who have good vision and are not experiencing any eye-related issues should get ophthalmic exams at the following stages:

1. Between 20 and 29 years of age
2. Between 30 and 39 years of age
3. At 40 years of age
4. Between 40 and 65 years of age, based on the doctor's recommendation
5. Starting at 65 years of age, every year to two.

Adults with any eye or vision-related issues must see their ophthalmologists once yearly unless the doctor says otherwise.

Per the American Optometric Association (AOA), adults who need annual eye exams due to a higher risk of eye and vision-related conditions include individuals who wear contact lenses and take medications that have vision or eye-related side effects. Additionally, individuals who have had eye surgery or injury, have a family history of eye disorders, and have occupations that may be hazardous to their eyes should visit their ophthalmologist annually. Lastly, people who have undergone refractive procedures like LASIK, PRK, or SMILE should have eye checkups annually or bi-annually.

What happens during an ophthalmic examination?

An ophthalmic examination is a comprehensive evaluation of your eye health and vision. There is generally no special preparation required beforehand. However, after the exam, especially if your pupils are dilated, you might need someone to drive you home since your vision may not return to normal immediately.

Here's what happens during an ophthalmic examination:

1. Eye History: Your doctor will take a detailed eye history. They will inquire about your vision problems, any corrective methods you use (such as glasses or contact lenses), overall health, family history of eye conditions, and current medications.

2. Vision Screening: The exam typically begins with a visual acuity test. During this test, you'll be asked to read symbols or shapes (e.g., letters on an eye chart) from a certain distance to assess your ability to identify them correctly. The eye specialist may also perform a refraction test to evaluate if you have a refractive error like nearsightedness. If you wear glasses, this test is also done to establish your prescription.

3. Dilation: Your doctor may use eye drops to dilate your pupils, making them larger. This dilation allows the doctor to examine the back of your eye. This includes the retina and optic nerve.

4. Other parts of the exam: The examination may include various additional assessments, such as:

• Assessment of the health of your eye muscles
• Examination of your pupils' response to light
• 3D vision (stereopsis) testing
• Peripheral vision evaluation to assess your ability to see outside of your direct focus 
• Examination of the retina with a magnifying lens and light to assess the health of blood vessels and the optic nerve
• Testing for color blindness, which involves identifying numbers, symbols, or shapes within multicolored circles
• Tonometry, a glaucoma test to measure the pressure of the fluid within your eye, usually involving a painless puff of air or gentle contact with your eye
• Slit lamp examination to check various eye structures, including the eyelid, iris, cornea, and conjunctiva.

These components of ophthalmic examination allow your eye care professional to assess your vision and eye health and detect any potential eye conditions or diseases. It's an important routine assessment to maintain good eye health and address vision issues.

Find the best eye doctors near you in Austin

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Booking appointments with eye doctors near you on Zocdoc is safe, quick, and free.

Vision impairment statistics in Texas

The "wet" type of macular degeneration is known to affect about 10% of patients. As this form of disease rarely incurs pain, the condition may go unnoticed for a long time. Routine eye checkups can help prevent this in most cases.

About 10% of the population aged 66 to 74 suffer from macular degeneration. This number increases to 30% of the population aged 75 to 85.

In Texas, more than 650,000 people reported blindness or difficulty seeing despite eyeglasses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to a report by Prevent Blindness America, the state-level prevalence rate for cataracts is 15% in Texas among the population above the age of 40, lower than the national rate of 17%.

Sources

Healthline

WebMD

Advanced Sight Center

Eye of Texas Vision Care

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Mayo Clinic[1]

Mayo Clinic[2]

Mayo Clinic[3]

Mayo Clinic[4]

Writer’s note: Eye of Texas Vision Care and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are dead links.

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.