World Optometry Day is March 23. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) recognizes this day as an opportunity to shine the spotlight on this key eye care profession and create awareness about optometry and its practices around the world.
At Eye Medical Clinic, it’s also an opportunity for us to shine the spotlight on our amazing Dr. Christina Nguyen Deane! She is a therapeutic optometrist at Eye Medical Clinic and our patients love her as much as we do!
Meet Dr. Deane
Dr. Deane sees patients for comprehensive eye exams and has a special interest and expertise in fitting specialty contact lenses for patients with keratoconus, eye trauma, corneal transplants and irregular corneas. She also specializes in cosmetic and multifocal contact lenses. If you thought you couldn’t wear contact lenses, you need to see Dr. Deane!
Before joining Eye Medical Clinic in 1995, Dr. Deane served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Medical Service Corps. After two years of service, she relocated with her family to Austin, Texas, where she built a thriving optometric practice. Upon returning to San Jose, she happily returned to the Eye Medical Clinic family in 2004. And we happily welcomed her home!
In addition to specialty contact lens fittings and comprehensive eye care, Dr. Deane is licensed to diagnose and treat primary care eye conditions. She loves helping patients achieve their personal best vision and is fluent in Vietnamese, which many in our Vietnamese patient population appreciate.
Do I Need an Optometrist or an Ophthalmologist?
We honestly love it when our patients ask questions during their appointments. We want you to feel like you have all the knowledge and tools you need to manage your vision. At Eye Medical Clinic, one of the questions we hear a lot is, “Do I need an optometrist or an ophthalmologist?” That’s a great question. And since World Optometry Day is around the corner, we thought it would be worth talking about in a little more detail. To better understand when you might need to see one versus the other, let’s take a look at what each type of professional is educated, trained and qualified to do.
Here’s a brief overview:
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (MD) or osteopathic doctors (DO) who specialize in eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists differ from optometrists and opticians in the level of training and in what they can diagnose and treat. As a medical doctor who has completed college, medical school and residency, an ophthalmologist is licensed to practice medicine and perform surgery.
Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat all eye diseases, perform eye surgery to correct vision problems. While ophthalmologists are trained to care for all eye problems and conditions, some specialize in a specific area, completing additional, more in-depth training called a fellowship in areas such as glaucoma, retina, cornea, pediatrics, neurology and plastic surgery.
Optometrists are healthcare professionals who provide primary vision care ranging from sight testing and correction to the diagnosis, treatment and management of vision changes. An optometrist can manage pre and post-op care for eye surgeries, but the surgery itself will be performed by an ophthalmologist. An optometrist receives a doctor of optometry (OD) degree after completing four years of optometry school, preceded by an undergraduate degree.
Optometrists are licensed to practice optometry, which primarily involves performing eye exams and vision tests, prescribing and dispensing corrective lenses, detecting certain eye abnormalities and prescribing medications for certain eye diseases.
Trust the Santa Clara Valley Eye Experts
Eye Medical Clinic has built a team of ophthalmology and optometry experts who are ready and eager to meet your vision needs. Representing all of the disciplines of eye care, we want to be your go-to source for anything eye or vision-related. Our expertise often draws in patients for eye surgeries like cataract removal, but that expertise is also what makes us a great option for routine eye examinations.
Our focus on comprehensive eye health means we watch for anything and everything that might affect your eyes. From basic eye exams to dry eye check-ups, we strive to safeguard every aspect of your eye health. At Eye Medical Clinic, our comprehensive eye exams are more than simple vision tests. Before we check your vision, we run a number of diagnostic tests for a variety of eye conditions.
In addition to modern cataract surgery, we are able to diagnose and treat most eye conditions, including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease and more. We even offer blepharoplasty for aging, puffy, tired-looking eyes.
At Eye Medical Clinic, our experienced team is made up of both board-certified ophthalmologists and a licensed optometrist. This experienced team works in lockstep to make sure every patient we are honored to serve is able to See Every Moment!
We invite you to experience our expert eye care for every generation at Eye Medical Clinic. We are dedicated to helping you enjoy your life to the fullest…with the clear vision you deserve.
