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Ophthalmologists are doctors. Optometrists [people who give eye examinations] are almost never doctors. (edited in response to comments - seems, once again, th
by robbiep 7y ago
Ophthalmologists are doctors. Optometrists [people who give eye examinations] are almost never doctors.
(edited in response to comments - seems, once again, that things are different in the US; so i'll clarify, they are almost never Doctors in AUS/UK/NZ)
Medical doctors in the UK and other commonwealth countries have traditionally been MBBS.
In Australia, the adoption of the Australian Qualifications Framework and pressure from the US, where people seem to expect 'MD's has lead to most universities shifting to MD programs from MBBS (an AQF level 7 -> AQF level 9).
The bottom line on this is substantively nothing, except a bit less ink being used on business cards, millions of dollars spent on website rebranding by medical schools and endless posturing by faculty for students.
So basically, whether you are a 'Doctor' by post-nominals or a 'Doctor' by recognition of your MBBS, your education has been effectively the same, and the distinction is actually meaningless.
[0] https://www.amsj.org/archives/5996 https://www.amsj.org/archives/5996
- tingletech 7y agoIt's been my understanding since I started getting glasses in the 8th grade in the in the United States that Optometrists have an OD (a non-medical doctorate), Ophthalmologists have an MD from a medical school (with the full rights thereof, such as prescribing medicine), and Opticians are the technicians who fit and order your prescription. That same Optometrist who taught me that also taught me about diopters (the inverse of the focal length in meters squared) and optics of my negative prescription.
- fortran77 7y agoIn the United States, an "ophthalmologist" has an M.D. An "optometrist" has a Doctorate in Optometry, which is several years of post-college education and internship. They can write some prescriptions, too, and diagnose, etc. An "optician" is a person certified to give eye exams. They do not have a graduate degree.
- dehrmann 7y agoAlso worth mentioning that some physicians are ODs (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), not MDs, and pharmacists are Pharm. Ds.
- Scoundreller 7y ago> Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Those are DOs. You may come across a lot of >40 year old pharmacists that have a Bachelors in the US.
- angry_octet 7y agoOphthalmologists are medical doctors, but also have post-graduate training in Ophthalmology. In Australia this is a closed shop, in that the College of Ophthalmology has a very entrance hard exam and effectively regulates the number of new Fellows to maintain scarcity/standards.