Why People Get This Confused

Quick answer: An optometrist (O.D.) is a doctor of optometry who provides eye exams, diagnoses and manages most eye diseases, and prescribes glasses and contacts. An ophthalmologist (M.D.) is a medical doctor who also performs eye surgery. For routine and most medical eye care, you start with an optometrist — and if you ever need surgery, your optometrist refers you to, and co-manages your care with, an ophthalmologist.

Fair enough — the names are almost the same word, and both wear white coats and shine lights in your eyes. But the training and the day-to-day work are genuinely different, and knowing which one you need saves you a phone call.

What an Optometrist Actually Does

Dr. Plunske and Dr. Sideris are both Doctors of Optometry (O.D.), which means four years of optometry school after undergrad, focused entirely on the eyes. Day to day, that’s comprehensive eye exams, diagnosing and managing conditions like glaucoma, dry eye, and diabetic eye disease, fitting glasses and contact lenses, and catching the early signs of problems that need a specialist. This is who almost everyone should see first.

What an Ophthalmologist Does

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (M.D. or D.O.) who completed medical school plus an ophthalmology residency, and in some cases a surgical fellowship on top of that. They perform eye surgery — cataract removal, retinal detachment repair, LASIK, and the like. Most ophthalmologists rely on optometrists to handle routine and ongoing care and refer patients to them for surgery specifically, then hand care back afterward.

So Which One Do You Call?

• Annual eye exam, new glasses or contacts, red or irritated eyes, most vision changes → optometrist
• Diagnosed with glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic eye disease, macular degeneration → optometrist, who monitors it and refers out only if and when surgery is actually needed
• Need cataract surgery, retinal surgery, or another eye procedure → ophthalmologist, usually on your optometrist’s referral

FAQ

01.

Do I need a referral to see an ophthalmologist?

Usually yes, from an optometrist or your primary care doctor — and most insurance plans require it anyway.

02.

Can an optometrist treat glaucoma?

Yes. Optometrists diagnose, treat, and monitor glaucoma with medication and regular monitoring; surgery, if it’s ever needed, is the only piece that goes to an ophthalmologist.

03.

Is an optometrist a “real doctor”?

Yes — Doctor of Optometry is a four-year doctoral degree with its own licensing exams, distinct from an M.D. but a doctor all the same.

The Bottom Line

If you’re not sure which one you need, call us. Most of the time, the answer is: come see us first, and we’ll tell you honestly if you need anything more.

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