What are the differences between Ophthalmologists, Optometrist, & Opticians?


Ophthalmologists
An Ophthalmologists is a physician ( doctor of medicine, MD, or Master of Surgery , MS) Who specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and visual system and in the prevention of eye disease and injury. An ophthalmologists has completed four or more years of collage premedical education, four or more years of medical school, one year of internship and three or more years of specialized medical and surgical and refractive training and experience in eye care. An ophthalmologist is a specialist who is qualified by lengthy medical education, training and experience to diagnose, treat and manage all eye and visual systems and is licensed by a state regulatory board to practice medicine and surgery. An ophthalmologist is a medically trained specialist who can deliver total eye care: primary, secondary and tertiary ( i.e., vision services, contact lenses, eye examinations, medical eye care and surgical eye care) , diagnose general diseases of the body and treat ocular manifestations of systemic diseases.
   

Optometrists 
An optometrists is a health service provider who is involved exclusively with vision problems. Optometrists are specifically educated and trained by an accredited optometry college in a four year course, but have not attended medical school. They are state licensed to examine the eyes and to determine visual acuity and prescribe spectacles, contact lenses and eye exercises. Optometrists may perform all services listed under the definition of an optician.
        

Opticians
An opticians is a technician who makes, verifies and delivers lenses, frames and other specially fabricated optical devices and/or contact lenses upon prescription to the intended wearer. The opticians functions include prescription analysis and interpretation; determination of the lens forms best suited to the wearers needs; the preparation and delivery of work orders for the grinding of lenses and the fabrication of eye ware, the verification of the finished ophthalmic products; and the adjustment, replacement, repair and reproduction of previously prepared ophthalmic lenses, frames and other specially prepared ophthalmic lenses, frames and other specially fabricated ophthalmic devices.