Who is an eye doctor?
There are mainly two types of eye doctors: ophthalmologists and optometrists.
Ophthalmologists are doctors of medicine (MDs) who specialize in providing comprehensive eye care. They can conduct comprehensive eye tests, perform eye surgeries, and treat a wide range of minor and complex eye illnesses and injuries.
An ophthalmologist is an expert in examining and treating the following eye conditions-
- Refractive errors. These include astigmatism, myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and presbyopia (losing near-focus vision).
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Color blindness
- Eye allergies
- Corneal conditions
- Conditions affecting the retina
- Amblyopia or lazy eye
Optometrists specialize in regular vision care and primary eye health care. They conduct eye exams and vision tests, prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses, and monitor eye conditions related to diseases like diabetes. Additionally, they manage and treat conditions such as dry eye and glaucoma and provide low-vision aids and vision therapy.
What kind of education and training do eye doctors receive?
An ophthalmologist typically completes approximately 12 to 13 years of education and training, including four years of undergraduate degree, four years of medical school, four years of residency training, and additional clinical and fellowship training. They are then certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology to practice eye care.
Some ophthalmologists specialize in subspecialties such as glaucoma and retinal disease treatment, neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastics, and ocular oncology. In neuro-ophthalmology, the specialist addresses eye problems originating from the brain or optic nerve. These issues may include drooping eyelids, involuntary blinking, migraines, and eyelid spasms. Ocular oncologists diagnose and treat cancers affecting the eye, eyelid, and eye socket.
On the other hand, after college, optometrists spend four years in a professional program to earn a Doctor of Optometry degree but do not attend medical school. Some optometrists pursue additional clinical training or complete a specialty fellowship after optometry school. There are various specialties within optometry, including:
- Pediatric optometry: These providers work with babies, toddlers, and children, using special techniques to test their vision.
- Neuro-optometry: This specialty focuses on vision problems resulting from brain injuries.
- Low-vision optometry: These optometrists assist individuals whose vision impairments cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, medication, or surgery. They provide devices and strategies to enhance the quality of life for those with low vision, helping them manage daily activities more effectively.
When should you see an eye doctor near you?
Besides going for routine check-ups, seeing an ophthalmologist for even the most minor eye problems can be beneficial in the long run. Here are a few reasons you should visit an eye doctor in your vicinity-
- If you're experiencing blurriness or a sudden change in your vision
- If you see floaters (specks, dots, or circles) or flashes in your vision
- If you have double vision
- If you suspect an eye infection
- If you have a history of eye conditions or associated diseases like diabetes, you should see an eye specialist frequently. Diabetic patients have high blood sugar, which can adversely affect and damage the blood vessels in the eyes and even lead to permanent vision loss.
- Suppose you need clarification about over-the-counter eye drops or eye products like blue-light-blocking glasses. In that case, you can see an ophthalmologist, who can direct you toward the right products and answer any questions you may have regarding their use.
- Eye doctors also guide patients towards healthier lifestyles. See an eye doctor if you want to learn about specific foods, supplements, vitamins, and daily changes to your routine that can help enhance the quality of vision.
- Symptoms like itchiness, redness, burning, and clear, watery discharge from your eyes may indicate allergies.
- You have dry eyes (a condition where the eyes cannot provide adequate lubrication required by your eyes) and cannot find relief using over-the-counter remedies. In this case, the eye doctor can help accurately diagnose the main cause of your dry eyes and suggest appropriate treatment.
- In case of eye injuries or sudden loss of vision, you should visit an eye doctor immediately. Ophthalmologists also work in emergency department settings where they can provide urgent care and avoid potential vision loss.
What to expect at an eye exam?
Before you visit an eye doctor, choose which eye specialist you want to see. You can see an optometrist for a regular eye exam and to diagnose common eye disorders. Your optometrist may refer you to an ophthalmologist if you have complex eye problems that require surgery. You can also visit an optician to buy prescription glasses and contact lenses.
At your first appointment, your eye doctor can ask about your medical history, medications (including over-the-counter medicines), and symptoms. They may also ask you about any previously diagnosed medical condition, prescribed glasses or contact lenses, family history of eye diseases, and any surgeries you have had.
After asking a few questions, a technician may administer an initial eye exam, which may include conducting a chart reading test and putting in eye drops to dilate your eyes so that your ophthalmologist can examine the inside of your eye. Here are some other tests that your doctor may perform:
- Eye muscle evaluation: This test evaluates muscle weakness, poor control, or coordination. Your doctor will examine your eyes as they follow a moving object like a light.
- Color vision testing: To examine you for color blindness or color deficiency, the eye doctor will show several multicolored dot patterns. If you're not colorblind, you can identify numbers and shapes hidden within the dot patterns.
- Glaucoma screening: Performing tonometry helps to detect glaucoma. It measures the fluid pressure inside your eye. If your eye pressure is higher or there are optic nerve issues, it could indicate glaucoma.
Find top-rated eye doctors near you in Nashville, TN
A routine eye test is essential for maintaining eye health. Frequent eye exams help in the early detection of eye problems and can prevent potential visual loss and blindness, especially for those with a family history of eye diseases who are at high risk. The American Academy of Ophthalmology also suggests that adults approaching 40 must have an eye exam.
Finding an experienced and qualified eye doctor can be quite challenging. But you needn't worry, as your search ends here! Zocdoc provides patients with an easy way of finding and booking a video or in-person consultation with a top-rated eye specialist from the comfort of their homes.
To book an appointment, visit the Zocdoc website and enter your condition, symptoms, and location. Then, browse the displayed list of eye doctors and select one based on gender, distance, hospital affiliation, time of day, wait time, office location, languages spoken, and whether they treat children.
If you need help finding eye doctors who accept your insurance, enter your insurance carrier and plan to find in-network doctors. On Zocdoc, you can connect your medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your account. Remember, each appointment can only use one insurance plan.
For those with multiple insurance plans, you can add secondary insurance details to the appointment notes. If your provider uses Zocdoc's intake forms, you can enter your secondary insurance information. You can refer to our online patient help center for more insurance-related queries.
To help you choose the best eye doctor in your area, Zocdoc provides each doctor's medical background, clinical training, awards, licensures, specialties, and certifications. You can also read honest and verified patient reviews that will help you understand other patients' experiences.
Furthermore, Zocdoc allows users to book a consultation on the same day, in advance, after work hours (5 pm), and even on weekends. To check a provider's calendar for availability, click on the “book online” tab next to a provider's profile and then “view all availability” to see their availability throughout the week or month.
Booking appointments with eye doctors near you on Zocdoc is fast, free, and secure!
Prevalence of eye doctors and eye conditions in Tennessee
According to a 2019-2020 report published by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), of the total active physician workforce in Tennessee (≈17,687), nearly 334 specialize in ophthalmology. Almost 24% of the workforce comprises female physicians.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2019, approximately 8.15% of the Tennessee population was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration. About 32.7% had cataracts, and around 15.96% reported having cataract surgery. The same year, nearly 2.89% of Tennessee residents had been diagnosed with a diabetic eye disease, including diabetic retinopathy.
In 2019, nearly 43.19% of the Tennessee population had their eyes examined. Approximately 26.02% had their eyes examined by an ophthalmologist or another physician, whereas around 21.21% had their eyes checked by an optometrist. About 20.81% of the population availed of diagnostic eye tests. The most common included visual field testing (≈6.99%), optical coherence tomography (≈14.35%), and stereo fundus exam (≈7.93%).
Sources
National Eye Institute
American Academy of Ophthalmology[1]
American Academy of Ophthalmology[2]
American Academy of Ophthalmology[3]
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Cleveland Clinic[2]
WebMD
Verywell Health
PennMedicine
Association of American Medical Colleges
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[3]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[4]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[5]
