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Doctor Decoded: Ophthalmologists vs. Optometrists vs. Opticians
Learn about the different roles of various eye health experts: ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians.
Written by Lauren Smith, MA | Reviewed by Alexandra Schwarz, MD
Updated on November 30, 2023When you’re due for an eye exam, you know you need to see an eye doctor. But when you search it online, you see different terms, like ophthalmologists and optometrists and even opticians. What’s the difference?
There’s some overlap among the three types of eye experts. They all specialize in eye care and vision, but in different ways. To figure out which eye specialist you should visit, you need to consider what your goals and needs are for your eye care. You may also need to look at which expert your insurance plan covers.
References
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. (2011). Difference between an ophthalmologist, optometrist, and optician.
American Optometric Association. (n.d). What’s a doctor of optometry?
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