Apart from being very hard to spell, like an optometrist, they have usually taken three years of college plus eight years of specialized medical training, resulting in a university degree referred to as a Medical Doctor or “MD”.

Ophthalmologists can be thought of as a specialized eye doctor.  While they can perform the same functions as an optometrist, they have medical skills to take care of specific eye problems that may require surgery.

Ophthalmologists can:

• Perform a sight test (reading the letters on the chart)
• Examine the eye using various instruments and technology
• Diagnose eye diseases.
• Prescribe medications to treat the eye disease.
• Write prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses
• Perform eye surgery