Eye care is extremely important, after all, many people use their eyes as a tool to navigate through their everyday lives!
Maintaining eye health and getting regular exams is critical in preventing the development of eye issues or diseases. Many professionals who provide such care specialize in the disciplines of optometry and ophthalmology – but what’s the difference between the two and how have they contributed to the history of our understanding of eye health?
In order to understand the difference between these two medical specialties, we must first identify what their roles are in the process of maintaining eye health. Optometry is a field of profession that is specifically based around the examination of the eye. Optometrists perform routine eye exams to check for any issues or illnesses. While they are not medical doctors and do not perform medical procedures, the job of an optometrist is to identify any issues within the eye – sometimes determining if abnormalities require further treatment from an ophthalmologist. The study of ophthalmology, on the other hand, focuses on medical and surgical treatment of complications in or near the eye and takes charge when a patient requires the medical intervention of an eye specialist.
These medical specialties work closely together to correct any issues or abnormalities. Doctors who specialize in optometry are in the first phase of this process, diagnosing their patients and, depending on the patients needs, either continue monitoring the issue themselves, or refer their patient to doctors specializing in ophthalmology to perform any necessary medical or surgical procedures.
Advancements made within optometry and ophthalmology have made eye care what it is today, some of which can be found in the IMSS collection. IMSS has many different artifacts that are part of the history of eye care in the The Science of Sight and The Ophthalmic Art exhibit. There are a wide range of examination and surgical tools and accessories on display ranging from medical instruments to optical wears, such as eye shields and prosthetics. There are even some notable devices, such as the Snellen eye chart that is used to measure visual acuity, an ophthalmometer (also known as a keratometer) that is used to examine the curvature of the cornea, and an ophthalmoscope that uses magnification to examine parts of the back of the eye, such as the retina and the optic nerve. This exhibit also contains a wide range of optical wears, from regular spectacles to accessories that are seen to be more uncommon today such as monocles, opera glasses, and lorgnettes. This is the perfect exhibit for anyone interested in ocular health or history, as this exhibit combines both to create an amazing display!
In conclusion, while both ophthalmology and optometry are essential parts of eye care, they serve different purposes that work together for eye doctors to be able to provide the best treatments for their patients. These specialties and the work done within them are a significant part of history, as much of the knowledge and many of the artifacts that are preserved throughout the world, including the pieces in the IMSS collection.
Sources
- https://www.aucmed.edu/blog/the-three-types-of-eye-doctors#:~:text=Opticians%20are%20technicians%20who%20fit,surgical%20treatments%20for%20eye%20conditions.
- https://www.eyemechanix.com/optometrists-and-ophthalmologists-working-together-for-your-eye-health/
- https://escrs.org/eurotimes//snellen-visual-acuity/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK580516/
- https://morancore.utah.edu/basic-ophthalmology-review/how-to-use-the-direct-ophthalmoscope/#:~:text=The%20direct%20ophthalmoscope%20allows%20you,of%20approximately%2015%20times%20magnification.
Skylar Hedgeman is the IMSS Spring 2025 Marketing & Operations intern.