Ophthalmologist

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye diseases and their treatment. Ophthalmologists are responsible for performing operations on eyes and are generally categorized as surgeons.

To become an ophthalmologists, one has to have completed medical school and then completed specialized training that generally lasts four years after medical school. Many ophthalmologists also undergo additional specialized training in one of the many subspecialities.

Note that there is a difference between opthalmologists and optometrists. An optometrists is an expert in determining a patient's refractive error and prescribing the appropriate sight correction solution such as the use of eyeglasses and contact lenses. Optometrists are generally not allowed to perform eye surgery whereas ophthalmologists have the license to do so.