The difference between Ophthalmologist and Optometrist's

"Your sight depends on seeing the right eye doctor at the right time."

Recently I went with one of my dearest friends as she took her 6 year old to the optometrist who also specialized in Vision therapy. Another dear friend referred her to this optometrist .  I'm interested in the subject immensely of course,  so she allowed me to go along.

If I hadn't been through so much with my own eyes, I would have never batted an eye at this subject. This optometrist was excellent....But I knew... She is still not a medical doctor.

The optometrist was very kind and appeared very smart.
The clinic had all sorts of high tech equipment.
We were in a smaller town in central MN.  I am used to going to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and this little clinic had equipment that appeared to be of higher tech than the revered Mayo...

This appointment was very important as my little six year old friend, seems to be struggling to learn sometimes in school.  We wanted to make sure his eyes were not contributing to his struggles.  Turns out, yes! According to this optometrist he needed a new prescription.  He favors one eye affecting his depth perception etc.  but as I looked at the perscription I found it odd that the child needed equal prisms in each eye and now bifocals at age 6.  I was a little worried about how hard it might be for a child to adjust to bifocals when I hear adults finding it  quite difficult for athem to adjust to bifocals.  I was worried he'd be just frustrated and take the glasses off altogether.

Optometrist, as I understand it, have not gone to medical school. They go to four years of optometry school.
Ophthalmologist, have gone to 8 years of medical school. And some have gone on to 2-3 years of subspecialty training.

Optometrist, specialize in eye exams, vision changes, managing already diagnosed eye issues and they can refer you to an ophthalmologist.
Ophthalmologist, specialize in comprehensive eye health, they can see the 'larger picture' of overall health, in regards to cause and effect and treatment options of various issues.  After an issue has been diagnosed, and optometrist can be quite capable of monitoring a condition.

I like to think of it as the optometrist is the ophthalmologist right hand man in caring for patients.

Apparently, this is a hotly debated item in eye world, especially in the USA.

As far as the fancy equipment.... well, come to find out.  Sometimes the best equipment is the doctors knowledge.  Sometimes simply doing something like dilating the eye is much more accurate than snapping a picture of the back of the eye.  Although, I'd like to add the machine is more comfortable.    That being said.  Nothing can out shine the human brain.

We followed up with a second opinion to the local Pediatric Ophthalmologist specializing in Strabismsus in our own town to learn that his eyes were actually good! Very Good. He had better convergence than most his age. He just had a small stigmatism .  He did not need vision therapy and really could see good with out his glasses.  When all was said and done. This little boys eyes were not the cause of his class room issues.  It had to be some other cause.  Can you imagine if we had gone down the road of prisms, bifocals, and vision therapy?
Turns out his mom had a hunch his eyes were working fine together ( converging well) He is excellent at sports.  Never misses a ball.  So how could his depth perception be that far off?
In this case the Optometrist was way far off.  We're so glad we got a second opinion before proceeding to put this child through even greater frustration with learning.

 Please take the time to read the link noted here.
It makes a difference.  If you get well intended, but incorrect eye care, especially at 6 years old.  It will affect your whole life.

Do your home work... See the right Doctor at the right time! If you're 6, it could mean your future.

http://www.aapos.org/terms/conditions/132

Jan 31, 2015 update : My friends son turns 8 soon. Next week in fact.  Guess what? He just now found out his official diagnosis.  Dyslexia with ADHD.... It's a rough diagnosis by a thorough a team of pediatric teachers, neurologists and a  psychiatrist . Can you imagine if we had spent over a year on vision therapy and the wrong perscription? It took us this long to get a team of doctors and teachers together to come to a full picture and a written plan of how to really help this little guy for the rest of his life.