Professions in Ophthalmology

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An ophthalmologist is a physician (doctor of medicine, MD, or doctor of osteopathy, DO) who specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and visual system and in the prevention of eye disease and injury.  An ophthalmologist is a specialist who is qualified by lengthy medical education, training and experience to diagnose, treat and manage all eye and visual systems and is licensed by a state regulatory board to practice medicine and surgery.

Doctors of Optometry (O.D.s/optometrists) are the independent primary health care professionals for the eye.  Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye.

Orthoptics is a profession allied to the eye care profession whose primary emphasis is the diagnosis and non-surgical management of strabismus (wandering eye), amblyopia (lazy eye) and eye movement disorders.

An optician, or dispensing optician, is a technical practitioner who designs, fits and dispenses corrective lenses for the correction of a person's vision. Opticians determine the specifications of various ophthalmic appliances that will give the necessary correction to a person's eyesight.

The Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) certification designation recognizes those individuals who have progressed through the COA and COT levels or are training program graduates as accomplished eye care professionals. The COMT designation confirms knowledge in 17 content areas that the ophthalmic professional seeking the COMT designation performs on a daily basis.

The Certified Ophthalmic Technician is the second core designation level confirming knowledge in 19 specific content areas specifically designed to test the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant or program graduate who intends to advance their career in the eye care field.

The Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) is the entry level core designation designed to start eye care professionals on the path to success. The COA designation confirms an assistant’s knowledge in 19 specific content areas.:

The Ophthalmic Scribe Certification (OSC) meets the CMS Rule and is designed to test ones knowledge of creating and maintaining patient medical records under the supervision of an ophthalmologist. These records include the documentation of a comprehensive patient history, physical examination, medications, lab results, and other essential patient information.

Achievement of the OSA sub-specialty certification exemplifies knowledge in the procedures and instrumentation necessary to assist in ophthalmic surgical suites.

The designation of Registered Ophthalmic Ultrasound Biometrist (ROUB) signifies Allied Ophthalmic Personnel who perform A-Scan biometry of the eye, and have a knowledge base in biometry and physics.