Two Most Common Types of Eye Doctors

Most people visit an eye doctor once a year.  They usually visit either an ophthalmologist or an optometrist.  Here’s an explanation of the two differences.

Ophthalmologist

An Ophthalmologist, like Dr. Pennachio, is a medical doctor who specializes in eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists differ from optometrists and opticians in their levels of training and in what they can diagnose and treat. An ophthalmologist is licensed to practice medicine and surgery and can diagnose and treat all eye diseases, perform eye surgery and prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses. Many Ophthalmologists specialize in a certain subspecialty.  A retina specialist is an Ophthalmologist who specializes in retina care, etc.

Optometrist

An optometrist is a Doctor of Optometry, an O.D.  Optometrists can perform an eye examination and can determine the presence of vision-related problems. They can also prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses. Some states allow optometrists to treat eye diseases and prescribe eye drops for various conditions.  Generally however optometrists are not trained or licensed to perform surgery.

If you have any questions about eye care, please contact the staff at Pennachio Eye in Clermont at 352-227-1999 or pennachioold.wpengine.com.