Deciding which of the de pere WI eye doctors you want to be your primary caregiver is an important decision to make. After all, you are going to be choosing the person you will be trusting to protect and maintain your vision. The very first step in choosing between the various de pere WI eye doctors is knowing that there are two different kinds of eye doctors: optometrists and ophthalmologists.
Optometrists
An optometrist is an individual who has taken the time to earn a Doctor of Optometry degree. This is a person who can conduct eye examinations for both health and vision related problems. An optometrist can correct vision problems by prescribing contact licenses or eyeglasses. There are also some optometrists that offer vision therapy.
Ophthalmologists
An ophthalmologist is an individual who has a degree as a medical doctor or as an osteopathic doctor. This is an individual who completed four years of college and four years of medical school. An ophthalmologist is also required to complete at least a one year internship as well as three years of ophthalmology in a hospital based environment.
The easiest way to understand the difference between these two is to think about a dentist. Either you see a general dentist or you see an oral surgeon. An optometrist is the equivalent of a general dentist and an ophthalmologist is the equivalent of an oral surgeon.
How Do You Decide Who To See?
In most cases, deciding what kind of eye doctor you want to see really comes down to personal preference. If your eyes are in good health and you are just going in for a routine vision checkup you are more than likely going to see an optometrist. If you are having serious problems with your eyes other than just your vision, it may be recommended that you see an ophthalmologist instead. Eye health problems that merit care from an ophthalmologist can include things such as:
* Glaucoma
* Macular Degeneration
* Cataracts
The vast majority of all optometrists are fully capable of treating common eye related problems such as eye infections and dry eyes. You can use the Internet and check out websites such as to learn more about your what local eye doctors you can consider.