VISION CARE
What is the difference between an Optometrist vs an Ophthalmologist vs an Optician?
Your Prefer Optic Vision Care Plan covers costs associated with Optometrists and Opticians for Comprehensive Eye Examinations and to provide your eyeglasses or contact lenses.
An Optometrist
examines eyes for both vision and health problems and corrects refractive errors by prescribing eyeglasses and/or contact lenses. They have earned the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree. Optometrists are licensed to prescribe medication to treat certain eye problems and diseases, as determined by state law. Optometrists may also manage pre-and post-operative care performed by a medical doctor.
An Ophthalmologist
performs eye surgery diagnoses and treats eye diseases, prescribes medication and performs eye examinations. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (MD).
An Optician
is not an eye doctor. Opticians evaluate lens prescriptions, written by an Optometrist (OD) or Ophthalmologist (MD), to select and fit the proper lenses to the frame of your choice. Opticians adjust frames and may fit contact lenses.
Your Comprehensive Eye Examination
is a series of tests performed by an Optometrist (OD) or Ophthalmologist (MD) assessing the patient’s ability to focus and looks for signs of common vision problems and eye disease.
Transition Lenses
are lenses that darken on exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. When the (UV) light is removed, by walking indoors for example, the lenses will gradually return to their clear state.
Progressive Lenses
are commonly referred to as “No-line” or “Invisible Bifocals.” Progressive lenses have many powers for viewing many distances within one lens.