What are the Big Three O’s?

Most people don’t know the difference between the ‘big three O’s’ of eye care, which are Optometrists, Opticians, and Ophthalmologists. This is why we have partnered up with Dr.Lili Liang again for the second installment of our ocular health articles to answer your most pressing ocular health questions. In this article, Dr.Lili defines the role of each ‘O’ to help you figure out which eye doctor can help you. Read on to find the right ocular care expert for your eyes.

Optometrists

The Myth:

“They are not doctors and you only need to see an optometrist when you need glasses”

What they can actually do for you:

It is much more than just glasses.

They are your family doctors but for your eyes only. Sometimes, we can experience some eye issues: trouble with vision, a new bump on the eye, redness that is not going away, or even unexpected scratch to the eye. Rather than googling and self-diagnosing with the worst possible condition or hurrying to the emergency room, find a local trusted optometrist instead. Yes, they can fix up your vision with glasses but also diagnose and treat ocular conditions until the treatment warrants a surgery. A typical day in an optometrist office consists of clearing up blurry vision with glasses, addressing eye irritations, checking ocular manifestation of systemic conditions or medications, and sometimes removing foreign bodies from the eyes. Optometrists are for everyone, regardless of the need for glasses for not. They can identify and treat any binocular issues that could hinder learning or near work. They can also detect many systemic conditions early by looking at the blood vessels at the back of the eyes. Anything that requires further investigation or surgery intervention, optometrists refer to ophthalmologists and communicate with your family doctor as needed.

Accreditation/Education:

Four years of an undergraduate degree
Four years of optometry school
Optional residency to specialize in ocular disease, vision therapy, pediatrics, neuro, etc
National and local licensing boards

Where to find them:

You can find them mostly in private practices. Sometimes, you can find them operating side by side with an optical dispensary. In the US, you can also find them in hospitals.

Fun fact: not all countries have optometrists

Opticians

The Myth:

“Opticians can do eye exams and give out glasses prescriptions”

What they can actually do for you:

They are the pharmacists for optometrists. Some may even call them vision architects. Opticians take the glasses prescription from your optometrists and execute them into glasses that give you the vision that your optometrist envisioned for you. They build you the vision that suits you and your lifestyle. It may be something as simple as driving glasses, or it could be glasses that give you clear vision at distance, comfort when working on the computer, and also able to read a book when sitting on the beach under the sun. Like an architect, they can tailor your vision experience to suit your vision needs. With an understanding of what is in your prescription, they can explain to you the different lens types, tint options, and minimizing distortion. Their expertise also lies in knowing what frame type is not only good for your prescription but also complementary to your facial features. They can build the vision you want and also change the way you see yourself.

Accreditation/Education:

One to three years post-secondary opticianry program depending on the accredited institution
National and local licensing boards

Where to find them:

You can find them mostly in well established and reputable optical shops and boutiques. They can also work closely with optometrists in private practices.

Ophthalmologists

The Myth:

“Are they the same as optometrists?”

What they can actually do for you:

Ophthalmologists are your ocular specialists. They are the surgeons for your eyes. They are eye magicians that make your eye problems go away or turn a bigger problem into something more manageable. You might think they are specialized enough already but ophthalmologists can further specialize in pediatrics, strabismus, cornea, retina, or neuro-ophthalmology just to name a few. Does this sound overwhelming? Don’t worry. Your optometrist can refer you to the appropriate ophthalmologist for further testing or surgical interventions when needed. Ophthalmologists perform all kinds of ocular surgeries from cataract removal, retinal detachment repair to vision-correcting laser surgery. In Canada, you need a referral in order to see an ophthalmologist for which either your optometrist or your family doctor can do for you.

Accreditation/Education:

Four years of an undergraduate degree
Four years of medical school
Residency in ophthalmology: five years in Canada, 3-4 years in the US
Optional fellowship post residency
National and local licensing boards

Where to find them:

You can find them in private practices and hospitals.

We want to thank Dr.Lili for sharing these insights with us and clearly outlining the expertise of each expert type. Now that you have this handy guide to reference and differentiate between the Big Three O’s of ocular care, we hope this helps you more easily locate the right ocular health expert for you!

ABOUT DR.LILI LIANG

Dr. Lili believes that there is a story behind every person and that a little bit of micro-dancing to samba jazz doesn’t hurt anybody. She holds a degree in Doctor of Optometry and a Master of Public Health. Through her experience from Malawi to Peru to now Vancouver, she strives to understand her patients on a personal level as she serves as the neighbourhood optometrist in Gastown and Mount Pleasant.

Website: www.doctorlili.com

Social: @whatlilisees