Guides / Optometrist vs. Ophthalmologist
Optometrist vs. Ophthalmologist
Both are eye doctors, but they train differently. This compares the two paths on schooling, entry tests and residency so you can decide which one you are preparing for.
Last checked Nov 2, 2026.
The Short Answer
An optometrist holds a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree. An ophthalmologist is a physician who holds an M.D. or D.O. and has trained in ophthalmology. Optometry school is four years, with the OAT as the admissions test and an optional residency. Medical school is four years after a bachelor's degree, with the MCAT as the admissions test and a required residency.
Side by Side
| Optometrist | Ophthalmologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) | Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) |
| Professional school | 4 years | 4 years, after a bachelor's degree |
| Admissions test | OAT (some schools accept others) | MCAT |
| Bachelor's degree first | Required by some schools, not all | Required for medical school |
| Residency | Optional, 1 year | Required: a one-year internship then a three-year ophthalmology residency, per the AAO |
| Licensure | State license; national boards by NBEO | State medical license |
Optometry rows from BLS and the OAT site. Medical school and licensure rows from BLS. Internship and residency length from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a 2011 policy statement that uses 2008–2010 figures; check current program lengths before you plan around them.
What the Sources Say
- Optometrists. BLS: optometrists "diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system," including examining eyes and prescribing corrective lenses, and they also prescribe some medications, with the types allowed varying by state. O.D. programs take 4 years, and graduates may do 1 year of advanced clinical training.
- Physicians. BLS: medical school takes an additional 4 years after a bachelor's degree, followed by 3 to 9 years of internship and residency depending on specialty.
- Ophthalmology training. The AAO says ophthalmologists complete four years of medical school, a one-year internship and a three-year ophthalmology residency, and that about 40 percent go on to a fellowship. It also says fewer than 20 percent of optometry graduates take an optional one-year residency. That statement was written to argue against expanding optometric scope of practice, so read it as one side's account of the training gap, not a neutral comparison.
What We Can't Compare Here
- Scope of practice. What an optometrist may prescribe or do in the office, including procedures, is set state by state. We don't summarize it. Your state board's rules are the source.
- Pay. BLS reports $136,570 as the May 2025 median for optometrists. We don't print a physician comparison because BLS's published ophthalmologist figures haven't been verified for this page.
Which Should You Prepare For?
- If you want a four-year professional program with direct clinical training in primary eye care, the optometry path is laid out here.
- If you want to perform eye surgery or train as a physician first, you're looking at medical school and a residency, and a different site is the right resource.
- Still deciding? Shadow both. Shadowing is how most students find out, and it counts toward optometry applications. See shadowing and experience.
Prefer to weigh cost against career? See Is Optometry Worth It? and optometry careers.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Optometrists
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons
- American Academy of Ophthalmology, Differences in the Education of Optometrists and Ophthalmologists (2011 policy statement)
- ADA, Optometry Admission Test
Requirements and dates change each cycle. Always confirm with each school before you apply.
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Keep Reading
- The OAT, ExplainedWhat's on the Optometry Admission Test, how it's scored, what it costs and the rules for retaking it.
- What's a Good OAT Score?Entering-class OAT averages for every school, and what score to aim for.
- Which OAT Prep?The main OAT prep options side by side, what they cost, and which one fits your budget and study style.
- OAT Study PlanFree 8-week and 12-week OAT schedules, week by week, with what to study for each section.