Optometrist vs Ophthalmologist vs Optician

[shadowsburnme]

optometrists are not medical doctors, and hence cannot treat systemic diseases which include complications of the eye. Optometrists are not MD doctors.

[caesarion12345]

The difference may be crucial if an optometrist does not discover an illness like glaucoma. The customer often does not know the difference which is huge. The same customer will believe everything is OK after receiving new glasses. In the mentioned case of glaucoma, the lost time may be fatal for a treatment. "Too late" in this case means blindness! The same for the begin of an undetected cancer...

[scottcharlton1]

The video gives a moderately reasonable run through of what an optometrist does but what on earth is that title all about? The video clearly has nothing to do with the differences between the 3 professions or how they interact with each other. For that reason I dislike.

[12milkshake]

This is like Chiropractors saying they work "like" orthopedic surgeons. Optometrists would not get the respect they deserve if they continue to mislead patients with this type of propaganda.

[anapadilla77]

This video just explains what an Optometrist is. It never even mentioned the other 2.

[tmaegerle]

It's a PR piece. Slick but provides no information to help us choose the proper eye care specialist.

[rehlima]

Primeiramente o Optometrista não quer ser medico, porque se quisesse ser medico ele realmente varia uma universidade de medicina, e depois uma residência na área . O Optometrista quer ser somente o Optometrista, se ele estuda 3, 5 ou 10 anos não importa, ele esta apto a realizar os exames e atividade que lhe cabe, e lhe foram ensinados na universidade.

Antes de falar mal de um profissão informe sobre ela, e sobre a qual você defende, ambos sempre terá ótimos profissional e péssimos profissionais

[Berkeley2Productions]

Don't watch if you are looking for a real answer. What a crock of crap.

[6691hoehn]

It is a marketing video only for optometrist. Please have the title changed!!!!

[Babidi234]

This is misleading! Pathetic move from optometrist.

[rchtmn2010]

Opticans not only fill prescriptions. But optician consult with patients on frame choice,help determine whats lenses that would be best suitable for the patients lifestyle and work habits.And in some cases, the optician -though rare nowdays- actually fabricates the prescription from start to finish. A good optician can detect any problem a patient may have with their glasses almost imediately.

[MDsloth]

Optometrista é tudo vigarista, pilantra, se quer dar uma de médico trate de estudar, entrar numa universidade de medicina, estudar mais, entrar numa residência e 9 anos depois você será um oftalmologista.

Vocês querem um atalho pra dar uma de médico sem precisar saber muito? Vão se catar!

[veteyeballdoc]

This video is a joke. Clearly misleading, not related at all to topic. It offers so comparison.

That's precisely why Optometry is not legal in Brazil.

[jimboy85]

Honesty is the best policy~ "Doctor's of Optometrist" intended to confuse people with Ophthalmologist~ This video is disgusting~

[2055420831]

@jimboy85 As a Doctor of Optometry I think this comment is uncalled for. Our degree is Doctor of Optometrist, we aren't trying to trick anyone. The successful Ophthalmologists that I interact with regularly have no problems with O.D.'s. We provide a much needed service and we refer to Ophthalmologists frequently as needed. M.D.'s still make more money than we do, why the need for competition?

[Commando303X]

What in the Land of Fuck does this video have to do with its title?

[SuperGeneralsurgeon]

ophthalmologists are in training for 9 years, optometrists go for 4 years. I don;'t know how one person thought it was two more years..My sister is an eye surgeon..she thinks there are a few good ODs but most have very little knowledge (which is a scarier thing to have in medicine than no knowledge at all)

[Commando303X]

@SuperGeneralsurgeon Ophthalmologists are in SCHOOL for nine years, not in "training" (for ophthalmology) for nine.

[Commando303X]

@SuperGeneralsurgeon Ophthalmologists are in SCHOOL for nine years, not in "training" (for ophthalmology) for nine.

[slechlit]

you are an idiot and your sister has a false sense of superiority.

[mikeclem22]

MDs go to school for 4 years after college, do a medical internship and then ophthalmology residency for 3 years, often followed by a 1-2 yr fellowship. ODs do four years after college and then sometimes a 1 year residency. Basically 8 years after college vs 5.

[mikeclem22]

This looks like some ad from the optometry world. I think they are trying to convince people that they are real doctors. My cousin who is an optician told me they want to do surgery by paying lots of money to politicians to push it through. Scary..... As Hamlet would say" Me thinks thou doth protest too much". Never heard of an optometrist coding a patient or putting in an IV.

[mizikal]

An OD is who you want to see for glasses and contacts. They have a better understanding of optics. While they are also able to treat other eye health problems. AN Opla will be able to preform cataract removal and cornea transplants

[randymigopoy]

so what's really the work of an optometrist if they are different from opthal?

[2010EyeDoc]

This is all about Optometry. The title is completely misleading. It leads one to believe that the training is complete. It is not.

[imasutiki1123]

This is an optometry COMMERCIAL. If you care about your eyes, have an ophthamologist routinely examine and treat your eyes. S/he is a MEDICAL DOCTOR (M.D.= Doctor of Medicine who got an MD degree at a MEDICAL SCHOOL) & who has done additional years of MEDICAL and surgical training to qualify as an OPHTHAMOLOGIST=EYE DOCTOR.Be sure s/he is Board certified by the AMERICAN BOARD OF OPHTHAMOLOGY and if not, ask why not. An O.D is not an M.D.Go to a real doctor for your eye care, not a "doctor."

[CjAz91]

@imasutiki1123 I disagree with you there. It is like going to your PCP (OD - optometrist) for routine care and then going to the specialist when a problem is detected.... MD. Also most MD's give a really crappy refraction (check or have a tech do it. Then you have to go to an OD for your script. Od's must go to school for 6 years. The real problem is the chain stores that do not dilate all their patients or even 50%. You cannot check the health of the eye w/o dilation.

[CjAz91]

@CjAz91 and OD's don't seem to have that god complex that MD's do....I have worked for both :)

[mtm8186]

@CjAz91

8 years for optometry

[mtm8186]

@imasutiki1123

LOL you know so little. ODs go to school for 8 years and are as able as ophthalmologists to treat eyes on a day to day basis. MDs who wish to do eye surgery go an extra two years to do so. My guess is you're an underachiever who probably works a minimum wage job who just hates on people more successful than them.

[yaya1yuyu2]

Which university should I go to, to get the best optometry education/training?

[LyNetMari]

docrichy and snoozylacetti were tooooo FUNNY!!!

[wertfer]

The title is absolutely misleading. This is an Optometry propaganda video.

[WarrenAch]

Okay guys shut up,here's the difference.

Ophtalmologist:Eye surgeon,can do the same job as Optometrists but focus more on complex problems + surgery.Ophtalmologists get high salaries ONLY if they do OR time.Cities are saturated with Ophtalmos and only the experienced ones do surgeries.150-300k/year

Optometrist=Eye physician,they can treat most eye diseases,can't do surgeries unless they have an M.D.90-150k/year salary.

Optician=The dude in the lab making lenses and contacts.60-90k/year.

[badmrfrost]

@WarrenAch

An Optometrist is NOT and MD

[WarrenAch]

@badmrfrost I never said they were MDs either.

[Dhesyca]

@WarrenAch Thanks, that saved me from watching the whole video and having to listen to that crappy background music.

[veganmo]

Ummm..... I learned nothing about the differences....

[docrichy]

p.s. "CHOW" is a breed of DOG

what you mean is "CIAO" italian for bye, informally

[oddwiak]

F_U!

[jlgood50]

It is no comparison at all. Just defining what an optometrist does. Highly biased. For an extensive eye exam, one should have an opthamologist check your eyes especially in your older years.

[oddwiak]

actually a routine exam is performed better by a independant O.D. not a walmart dope! that's the problem. if you want to see go see a independantO.D. a ophthalmologist usually has a optician (low level dope) get your RX!

[snoozylacetti]

Maybe you shoud learn to spell Ophthalmologist before you make any further comment.

I'm an Optometrist, I've practiced for 5 years and in the UK it is Optometrists who are the primary eye care clinicians. Why would you want a tertiary care provider such as an Ophthalmologist in a primary care setting? Optomertrists are much more aware of normal (and therefore abnormal) conditions compared to Ophthalmologists.

I suppose there are much more commercial and competitive pressures in the US...

[oddwiak]

hey idiot if you could learn to read you just reiterated my point! no wonder the yearly study of best countries to live in rated england 38!!! you stupid brit!!

[WarrenAch]

Ok,i'll make this simple,an optometrist is an eye specialized doctor,he looks for diseases,sights and prescribe glasses and stuff like that.

Ophtalmologists are "eye surgeons",they are basically MD graduates and some are OD graduates,they take the reports from optometrists,and correct diseases with surgeries...

an Optician is an eye specialist,ophtalmologists and optometrists are opticians,the ophtalmology program is a post-doctoral residency program,so you need an OD or MD to get accepted.

[TheLetterJ]

Wrong.

An OD cannot become an Ophthalmologist in the US without going through medical school first.

Ophthalmologists in the US must have an MD or DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine) degree.

OD = Doctor of Optometry

DO = Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

[WarrenAch]

I was wrong with the OD requirement.

Thanks for the correction.

[snoozylacetti]

You are right about Optometrists and Ophthalmologsits but wrong about Opticians.

An Optician is a technician that manufactures or fits frames and dispenses prescriptions from Optometrists and Ophthalmologists.

[ajod1]

"In the UK, Optometrists aren't given the title of Doctor (oddly)"..... What's odd about that? Optometrists aren't Doctors and therefore to call themselves so would be fraudulent (like the title of this video clip)... Can't comment on the U.S. use of titles.

[docrichy]

in the uk, optometrist aren't given the title of doctor (oddly), they are paid poorly compared to other countries, and if you work for one of the big companies e.g. specsaver, vision express or d&a etc - optometrists are treated like a bloody sales reps!

[snoozylacetti]

Er, no that's not true.

Optometrists salaries in the UK large multiples average around 50k, how is that poor pay?

Considering Spain doesn't even have Optometrists - in Spain and most of europe their "Optometrists" are not even allowed to examine the fundus!! What a progressive and modern system!!

UK Optometry must never merge with European "Optometry" which is backward and archaic.

The inrtoduction of the UK Doctor of Optometry qualification is now distancing UK Optometry from Europe

[WarrenAch]

50k is still low for an opto,some in canada usually make over 200k/year...while some make 90k...

While ophtalmologists bill between 300-500k/year,some may make even more if their private practice "works good"...same for optometrists.

[snoozylacetti]

Thats in sterling you numb nut.

And my old superviors optometrist was making £100k which is like $220k Canadian dollars

[docrichy]

@snoozylacetti

you're wrong, the average uk salary for an optometrist is MUCH lower.

newly qualified start as low as £28k, average is more like £36 - £40k per annum in uk large multiples. I know, because im a UK based optometrist.

about 5-6yrs ago, the salaries were much much better in uk

[snoozylacetti]

er well no ur wrong, I'm a UK Optometrist, my salary is nealy 50K (inc bonus) and I've been qualified for just over 4 years. My supervisor was making over 100k (admittedly she owned 2 practices) so i think ur somehow accepting lower salaries!!

Optoms like urself that happily accept such low salaries are not really doing the profession (or yourself) any favours.

Are you a UK national Optometrist (or a spansih educated one??!)

[WarrenAch]

Then try to be clear when you type.

50K doesn't mean it's in Euros/U.S./CAN/Sterling or anything else....

[snoozylacetti]

Haha, since i'm talking about UK in the text i assumed you might understand that the UK uses sterling (which is worth a lot more US or Canadian dollars.)

[WarrenAch]

Talking about UK doesn't determine anything.

Anyways,i'm not gonna argue on a such stupid point,see ya.

[snoozylacetti]

And i can't be bothered arguing with someone as ignorant as yourself. Chow

[WarrenAch]

Pfft,you don't look like a real optometrist,judging from your rude attitude...i can tell you're some 10 years old kid surfing on the net pretending he's an O.D.,from all the O.D.'s i've talked to,you're the only one that acts like a crackhead over little things,typical immature kid's reactions...anyway,see ya,and go do your homeworks,kid.

[snoozylacetti]

Well i am a UK Optometrist, I've dealt with nerve palsies, Corneal ulcers, Anterior Uveitis, wet and dry ARMD, diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy, glaucome and acute closed angle glaucoma.

I also undertake paediatric Optometry and a UK hospital, dealing with strabisum, high refractive errors, amblyopia and a range of paediatric retinopathies.

So get back to your study. Chow

[docrichy]

@snoozylacetti

copy n pasteing from wikipedia LOL

* strabismus

* glaucoma

get it right. what uv just written is so common place, ur def not an optom

[snoozylacetti]

typos you numb skull

[docrichy]

@snoozylacetti

so you wrote chow instead of ciao, and thats a typo? ur too thick to be an optom.

[snoozylacetti]

No 8 A's GCSE, A and 3 B's A Level, 2.1 Univeristy Bradford Optometry.

[docrichy]

@snoozylacetti

hahahaaa only 8 GCSE's? only 3 A-levels? and BRADFORD LOL hahahahahahaaaaa

explains everything. ur a joke. ciao LOL

[snoozylacetti]

Ok enjoy working in ur store doing ur eye tests, i'm from a white coat practice haha

[docrichy]

@snoozylacetti

i earn more than you, and i do enjoy doing eye tests. your life sucks, and ur not even an optom, ur way too thick. nobody cares about hospital optoms, any old idiot can do that.

hahahaaaaa ur must be tired of being such a loser.

I dare you to tell me which independant you work in, where apparantly you dont do 'eye tests' - what do you do, apart from make a royal ass out of yourself on youtube?

[snoozylacetti]

Tell me why ur from spain and working in the UK? We had a bunch of spanish ppl join our course and we just lumped them in with the dispensers LOL. They knew approximately nothing of Ocular and general pharmacology and no Ophthalmic pathology..

Your the one making the ass of urself having no professional pride, no doubt u call urself an Optician aswell..

1st lecture at bradford was never to allow ourselves to be called opticians, work in "stores" etc!!

[docrichy]

im not from spain u gullable twat. thats just where my holiday home is, and I set up my yt account there.

god you really are thick.

ur just jealous because ur a nobody retail associate. dont try and talk with real optoms junior.

you telling me I have 'no professional pride' is like being told i'm unfaithful to my girl, by John Terry.

hahahah sucks to be you - no pride, no professionalism, poor educational background and credentials, poor salary, poor attitiude, small knob

[snoozylacetti]

hmm yes ok whatever, i'm not wasting anymore of my clinical time with someone like you.

Hope you continue to enoy working in a shop.

[docrichy]

hahhahaaaaaaa "clinical time" ? now?

hahahahahaaaa ur so so thick, its unreal.

u must be in a mental institution, hence, ur in clinic time. that explains the white coats.

im superior to you, in every way possible. u go to bed now, im tired of making you look stupid, u thick retail associate.

[snoozylacetti]

haha retail associates what a ridiculous name, they're called optical assistants aka support staff.

I think you may have some sort of superiority complex disorder, i've never tried to claim i was better than you. Perhaps you're a type A personality - you don't happen to suffer from central serous retinopathy and have a corresponding +1 shift in your rx do you?!

All i have done was put across my views that have been instilled in me @ uni 9 years ago.

[docrichy]

ur so thick talking about CSR. You definately arent an optometrist. Stop copy n pasting from wikipedia, noob.

get the message - NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOU OPINION, and NOBODY CARES ABOUT WHERE YOU WORK.

you have an inferiority complex

[snoozylacetti]

and you can't even spell definitely...don't tell me Anglia polytechnic right? hehe

[docrichy]

and you can't even contextualize clinical information...

you were born to lose.

[snoozylacetti]

Anglia polytechnic !....i don't speak wit ppl from anglia poly...i never even put it on my UCAS form..!

byeee

[docrichy]

nope! not anglia u thick bradford retard!

wrong again! wow! ur on a role.

quit now, ur getting thicker by the second

[snoozylacetti]

Can i suggets you take a permanent holiday back to ur native spain as the UK really doesn't need ur "skills"

Do you actually know what an ophthalmsocope is?!

[docrichy]

you mean

* ophthalmoscope

LOL SEE, YOUR GETTING THICKER HAHAHAA what a loser! hahahahaaa

I take regular holidays to spain with my beautiful girlfriend thanks.

[snoozylacetti]

typo u numb skull....ok take a regular holiday to spain and stay there.

I'm sure the UK public will be 100% fine without you anywhere near their eyes.

I can't believe your UK University trained with your attitude.

[docrichy]

you have the attitide problem mate

live by the sword, die by the sword

you made the typo, ergo, you are the numb skull.

im far more competent than you, ergo, the UK public will benefit from my clinical expertise. you are thick, ergo, a dangerously poor optom

im british, born, raised, educated. I TOLD you, i only have a holiday home in spain, MY GOD your comprehension is so poor.

now stop pretending junior, you're not an optom.

[snoozylacetti]

"nobody cares about hospital optoms, any old idiot can do that."

Thats a disgraceful and ignorant statement and i genuinely don't believe any UK Optometrist would ever believe as such. And I'm sure the UK associattion of hopsital optometrists would have something to say on that.

[docrichy]

@snoozylacetti

which independant do you work in, and where?

[docrichy]

@snoozylacetti

lol dont be so presumptious

i've been qualified 2yr, and my salary is similar to urs (with bonus) and higher with the locum days i do. But thats because i have phenomal conversion rates

but all my friends who are new, are on shit salaries, and companies only care about conversion. dont tell me i dont do the profession any favors mate, I was twice nominated and once awarded optom of the year, and I work for 1 of the market leaders

shame, u shud be earning more after 4yrs!

[snoozylacetti]

You didn't really answer the question as to whether you are UK University trained and educated.. I am an A Level and UK trained Optometrist..i completed my pre-reg with D&A, and now work part-time for the HES.

Its funny that you have provided all those figures for Optoms and then distanced them from yourself, as you claim to earn more..

I take it that "working for one of the market leaders" is a euphemism for Specsavers. Thankfully i've never worked for them!!

[docrichy]

@snoozylacetti

im UK university trained & educated.

never worked for specsavers in my life.

wow, ur immature. ur def not an optom, just some kid tryin to act big, nobody cares what u earn, but i feel the general salary is poor. e.g. compared to my girlfriend who qualified 5yrs ago, and started on £55k

tell me where you work? which store?

[snoozylacetti]

don't work in a store...never worked in a store..shopkeepers work in a store..

Work in independent practice and part-time as a specialist optomertist in the nhs..

People like yourself that work in stores, doing eye tests (eye examinations) are bringing the profession down. Get your terminology right and have some pride in the profession!

[aliseyecare]

Its a nice clip, i think the title should had been 'Responsibilities of an Optometrist'

Our Corrupted Ophthalmologists should view it.

[livewire242]

Everyone please give this video a POOR rating.  1 star. The title is a complete lie. At no point does this video explain the difference between types of eye doctors.

[siealsei]

this is a commercial !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[faithfuldissenter]

Doctors of Optometry (OD) provide eye & vision care; examine, diagnose, treat & manage diseases & disorders of the eye. Playing a major role in the overall health by detecting systemic diseases such as diabetes & hypertension. Optometric physicians complete 4 yrs of undergraduate study, culminating in a bachelor's degree in a variety of advanced health sciences. Optometry school consists of another 4 years of post-graduate, doctoral study concentrating on both the eye & systemic health.

[biggurs]

Here in the UK we have optometrist who is the person who performs the eye test, prescribes glasses or contact lenses and detects any disease, abnormality or any suspected problem of the eye and then refer to an OPHTHALMOLOGIST who will DIAGNOSE the problem and then do whatever is required, eg perform surgery or treat a particular problem like glaucoma with medication.

A DISPENSING OPTICIAN is someone qualified in dispensing glasses and knows about lens types but many stores manage without.one

[Dahud82]

Exactly! Same here in Poland. If you want to diagnose and treat ANY kind of disease you should be a MEDICAL DOCTOR! All those technicians and pseudo-doctors are just bollocks! Do they know all the systematic interactions and possible complications from the drugs they use? I'm sure as hell no! It's terrifying what those Americans are doing just to lower the costs. It all comes to what they'd have to pay a medical doctor and what they're paying those 'optometrists'.

[yoshibutter]

actually, we are trained in systemics and pharmacology as well as vision science/physics. we don't prescribe all drugs under the sun, only the ones that we work with. if the ocular drugs we prescribe can interfere with the patient's current meds, we coordinate care with the other health professionals. we undergo multiple board exams (each lasting at least seven hours) prior to graduation which also includes a pharm test. please do not make assumptions before you do your research.

[vavachi241982]

you said it brother......absolutely

[Dahud82]

@vavachi241982 sister actually

[georgiaboy206]

I'm pretty sure that, as an optometrist, you must wear eyeglasses. I bet you that some optometrists wear them that don't need them. As far as the difference between a optometrist and ophthalmologist? An optometrist is a primary care eye doctor and an O.D. They go to optometry school for four years. An ophthalmologist is essentially an eye surgeon. They are M.D.s, go to medical school for four years, residency for four years, then often subspecialize for one or two years.

[popitinpete]

WHAT georgiaboy? We have great job satisfaction every time we pick up a treatable condition like glaucoma or tumour. We wear spex only if we need them, our needs are as anyone's. Would an audiologist wear a hearing aid for no reason? In the UK, ethics are very high in the optometry profession, I'm sure that's true in the US too.

[maomaoyu000]

great video, i have been asked like 76X "why the hell u spend 3 years just to learn how to change the glasses??" crew them.

optometrist live foever!!

[arsenalcanada]

very informative video in terms of describing what an OPTOMITRIST does, but very mislead title. Opthalmologist and optician were not explained whatsoever, what gives?

[EDITquette]

I'm 99% positive that the word "opthalmologist" nor the word "Optician" were used even once in this video. It was a very informative video, yet clearly only mentioned optometrists.

[OutOfSeattle]

It's amazing how much optometrists can help us. Thanks for the video.

[kulyan14]

very informative! there's a lot of people who are still confused with the definition of the 3 profession, specially here in the philippines..