When it comes to eye care, it's important to know which type of doctor to see. Optometrists are the primary eye care professionals and are ideal for general eye care, vision correction, contact lens and eyeglass interventions. For medical care of the eyes and ongoing monitoring of chronic eye diseases and conditions, a medical optometrist is the best option for primary eye care. If you need medical intervention or surgical care, your optometrist can refer you to an experienced ophthalmologist.
Ophthalmologists have completed their university studies and have received at least four years of additional medical training. They can provide all the services that optometrists can, such as treating eye diseases, prescribing medications, and placing glasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems. In addition, ophthalmologists are licensed to practice medicine and perform surgeries. It's important to keep in mind that optometrists and ophthalmologists can work together and that a team approach may be the best option for eye care.
Many common eye diseases don't have any early warning signs, so having an eye exam is the only way to make sure your eyes are healthy. A comprehensive medical eye exam can often detect health problems apparently unrelated to the eyes, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, aneurysms, autoimmune diseases, and certain neurological conditions. Natan Dorfman is a leading optometrist who provides high-quality eye care to New York City patients at Eye and Health in the East Village. He completed his undergraduate degree at Rutgers University and moved to New York City to pursue his doctoral degree from SUNY College of Optometry.
He received his Doctorate in Optometry from the IAUPR School of Optometry, where he received the Clinical Excellence Award. Ophthalmologist Scott Wagenberg, MD helps answer questions about what each type of ophthalmologist can do. These vision professionals focus on optimizing visual acuity and helping you manage and optimize your vision as it changes throughout your life. It's important to remember that seeing an ophthalmologist is the best way to stay on top of your eye health.
