Dr. Suvarna Koppikar

A: An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor specialised in vision and eye care. Unlike other specialisations in eye care, ophthalmologists attend to almost all kinds of eye disorders and related issues. Since they are doctors, they can refer patients to other specialists even if the disease is not eye related.

A: Yes. Both of them are very much different. Although ophthalmologists and optometrists both provide vision and eye care, an optometrist attends to common eye disorders and certain chronic diseases like glaucoma, while an ophthalmologist, along with the common disorders, can take up more complex eye disorders that even require surgery.

A: Yes, ophthalmologists can perform surgery as they tend to have years of training and experience. Many ophthalmologists obtain subspecialty training in areas like eyelid surgery, retinal surgery or pediatric surgery. Others perform surgery based on requirements of the local hospitals or surgical centres.

A: Ophthalmologists initially perform eye exams like slit-lamp exam, retinal exam, and visual acuity test. Once cataract is diagnosed, there are certain steps that the patient should follow. Cataract can be removed only with surgery. During surgery, the eye’s natural cloudy lens is replaced by an artificial lens by the surgeon, thus resolving the issue.

A: An ophthalmologist can indeed prescribe contact lenses. Even optometrists can prescribe contact lenses and hence it is not necessary that one should visit an ophthalmologist only. Both of them can perform eye exams for the same and the patient can visit either of them