Ophthalmologist vs. optometrist

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Ophthalmologist vs. optometrist

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I'm often asked, "What's the difference between an ophthalmologist and an optometrist?" The words kind of sound the same. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor. I'm an ophthalmologist. I went to medical school. I did internship. I delivered babies. I did surgery. And then I specialized in surgery and medicine of the eye. That's an ophthalmologist. They are a medical doctor. In fact, I took care of my kids' colds and ear infections. Optometrists are specializing in optics and refraction. They fit glasses. And they're the ones who are going to say, "Which is better, one or two?" And they give you different lenses to give you your glasses. They also fit contact lenses. They do treat some eye problems, but they're not as medically oriented and surgically oriented as are the ophthalmologists, who are MDs. Yes, ophthalmologists also fit glasses and some do contact lenses, but their major role is medical and surgical treatment of eye disease, where an optometrist, their major emphasis is on glasses and contact lenses.
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Kenneth Wright, MD

Pediatric Ophthalmologist

A caring physician, Dr. Kenneth Wright is devoted to the health of children’s eyes. He is an internationally respected pediatric ophthalmologist, and is included in “The Best Doctors in America” and “Who’s Who in Medicine and Health Care.”  Dr. Wright is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the USC Keck School of Medicine.  He has developed novel surgical techniques for pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus.  Dr. Wright received his medical degree from Boston University and fellowships in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at Johns-Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, and Children’s Hospital, Washington, DC.  Following his fellowships, he then accepted a full-time faculty member position at USC School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles where he served for 10 years.  He was later appointed Director of Pediatric Ophthalmology at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, before returning home to Los Angeles to establish a pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus center of excellence.  

Dr. Wright has authored of over 100 published scientific papers, seven textbooks including his renowned textbook, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus and has lectured worldwide.  He founded the non-profit Wright Foundation with a mission to reduce blindness and suffering in children with eye disorders through research, education, and clinical care. He has established a pediatric eye clinic for underprivileged children.  Important to the Wright Center is the principle that patient care always comes first.  

An interesting personal note is that Dr. Wright’s youngest son developed crossed eyes as an infant requiring surgery and Dr. Wright operated on his own son.  The outcome was excellent and years later his son served in the United States Marine Corps as a top marksman.

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