When was your last eye exam? If you can’t remember, it has been too long. At Elmquist Eye Group, you will get the best eye care in Fort Myers, FL. We recommend that adults have a complete eye exam at least every one to three years. Frequency will depend on age, family history of eye disease, other health risk factors and whether you currently wear corrective lenses.

Screening vs. exam

Vision screenings are not the same as a vision exam. Adults may take vision screenings at times, such as the eye test you take for your driver’s license. While vision screenings are very useful in certain situations, they are not a substitute for a thorough, complete eye exam. Only professional eye care professionals, like an optometrist or ophthalmologist, can conduct a comprehensive eye exam. Your family physician can refer you to Elmquist for this eye exam.

Optometrist, Ophthalmologist, Optician?

There are so many choices, and all of these professionals begin with “o”. It can be confusing. Which professional do you need? Optometrists and ophthalmologists are both eye doctors. Optometrists are doctors of optometry (D.O) but not physicians (M.D.s); they provide regular vision care and provide vision correction prescriptions for eyeglasses.

Optometrists perform eye exams and prescribe glasses for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. These doctors also often diagnose eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who offer complete eye care services including diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases. At Elmquist, our optometrists and ophthalmologists work together on your personal vision care plan, and we often work with your primary physician as well on a total treatment plan. Ophthalmologists provide medical eye care for eye diseases and perform surgeries for cataracts and vision improvement such as LASIK surgery.

Opticians are not eye doctors and do not provide eye exams. The doctor prescribes the eyeglasses prescription and the optician fills the prescription. Opticians also adjust and repair eyeglasses and help the patient choose the proper lenses and frames.

Experience Matters

You’ll need different eye care professionals throughout your lifetime, and regardless of which one you choose, you can trust the Elmquist team for all your eye care needs. Our experienced team of ophthalmologists, ophthalmic surgeons and professional opticians has tremendous knowledge and experience. Come to Elmquist Eye Group for your Fort Myers FL eye care. Schedule your appointment today.