Are Ophthalmologists the Only Ones Who Can Perform Cataract Surgery?

An eye doctor is an eye doctor, right? Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. There are three grades of healthcare professionals that are commonly referred to as eye doctors—each of which has a distinct definition. 

These are opticians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists. The latter is the only one who can perform cataract surgery.

Demystifying Eye Doctor Status and Why Only Ophthalmologists Can Perform Cataract Surgery

• A quick overview of the different grades of eye doctor
• Ophthalmologist expertise 
• Delving deeper: cataract surgery specialties

A quick overview of the different grades of eye doctor

1. Optician: This is a technician who fits and verifies your eyeglasses and/or contact lenses. They are not medical doctors. They play a valuable role in the care of your eyesight and use the prescriptions provided by either an optometrist or ophthalmologist. They do not perform eye tests and cannot diagnose or treat eye conditions.
2. Optometrist: While they’re not a medical doctor, optometrists undertake four years of training that provides them with the expertise to carry out eye tests, write prescriptions, and treat any changes in vision. They can also diagnose and treat certain eye diseases.
3. Ophthalmologist: A person who’s taken a medical degree and then completed further clinical training in the field of ophthalmology. They will have undergone a minimum of 12 years of training (both theoretical and practical) to gain their qualification.

Ophthalmologist expertise 

After completing general medical training, many further years of eye-specific education are needed to receive ophthalmologist status. This gives the necessary knowledge to diagnose and treat all eye conditions, prescribe and fit lenses to treat refractive errors, and carry out eye surgery.

Many ophthalmologists tend to drill down on their preferred area, taking more specialist study to become experts in one or two areas—such as cataract surgery, laser vision correction, pediatric eye care, etc.

Delving deeper: cataract surgery specialties

Even within one specialist area of eye care—such as cataract surgery or retinal issues, for example—you’ll also find ophthalmologists who’ve elevated their training to become true subject matter experts. 

The eye is an extremely complex organ. When it comes to cataract surgery, the internal geometry of every person’s eye is different. Plus, when you add co-existing health conditions into the mix, treating the cataract-diseased lens becomes incredibly intricate. 

There’s no one-size-fits-all procedure for cataract surgery—every operation is individual, and the outcome is wholly dependent on the skill of your surgeon. This is why the only people who can perform cataract surgery are medical doctors who have the necessary knowledge and grounding in the whole body.

If you consider other health implications, such as pediatric cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, or previous eye trauma, for example, this all impacts the nature of your surgery. Most experienced cataract surgeons will tell you that it takes hundreds—or, more realistically—thousands of procedures to hone their skills. Therefore, the best surgeons will always let you know if your situation requires the attention of a more specialist clinician.

Let’s face it, your vision is probably the most important of all the senses. With the aim of cataract surgery being to improve your eyesight and quality of life, this makes perfect sense. With this in mind, you should feel completely at ease with your chosen cataract professional and be able to ask them any questions you wish. Good cataract doctors embrace full patient engagement and will do their utmost to provide you with all the information you need.

If this also includes referring you to another specialist who they feel is better qualified to treat you, then rest assured that you’re truly in the hands of someone who has your best interests at heart.

Get the Best Ophthalmologist Care at the West Boca Eye Center

Whether you need advanced cataract care, regular eye examinations, laser vision correction, glaucoma treatment, or anything else related to the health of your eyes, there’s no better facility than the West Boca Eye Center.

Discover more about our highly skilled team at https://www.westbocaeyecenter.com/ and call today to schedule a consultation.