Who's who among the eye pros?

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and vision system and the prevention of eye diseases. They have an M.D. or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degree.

Optometrists (doctor of optometry, or O.D.) have undergone four years of graduate education at an accredited college of optometry. They’re specially trained to diagnose and treat vision conditions—nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and so on—and to provide some of the general eye-health services that ophthalmologists do, such as checking the eyes for cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal disease and helping to treat those conditions. They can prescribe eyeglasses, contact lenses, low-vision aids, and some eye-related medications. They do not perform surgery.

Opticians are vision-care professionals who dispense eyeglasses, frames, and contact lenses, usually in conjunction with an ophthalmologist or optometrist.