What's the difference between an ophthalmologist, an optometrist, and an optician?
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor or M.D. who has completed four years of medical school followed by one year of internship and three years of residency training in ophthalmology. Some ophthalmologists may elect to spend another year or two after residency specializing in one area of ophthalmology, such as cornea or retina. At the end of training, an ophthalmologist may properly be called an eye physician and surgeon capable of diagnosing and treating any eye condition. A Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology is a board-certified ophthalmologist.
An optometrist, or O.D., on the other hand, attends optometry school and is not trained as a medical doctor. An optometrist prescribes glasses and fits contact lenses and is capable of diagnosing and treating some, but not all, eye diseases.
An optician specializes in making and fitting glasses and contact lenses.
What eye care services do you provide?
We provide comprehensive services including routine eye examinations for glasses, diagnosis of eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease, as well as medical and surgical treatment of eye diseases. We also prescribe and fit glasses and contact lenses. Our surgical expertise includes cataract surgery, laser vision correction, corneal transplantation, glaucoma surgery, eyelid surgery, and eye muscle surgery.
We work with Medicare, Medi Cal and many different insurance plans. At the time of your visit you should be prepared to pay the insurance co-payment as well as any fees for non-covered services. We accept cash, check, Visa/MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
What if I or a loved one is uninsured?
We will work with you to ensure that you receive the best care possible, regardless of your insurance status.
We do assist those requiring eye surgery who cannot afford it.
