Bellevue LASIK & Cornea Blog | Dr. Leavitt and Dr. Farag

Whether you need corrective lenses or eye surgery your eye doctor will be your partner in every decision you have to make. So it makes sense to choose the right eye doctor before you invest time and money.

People are often confused about the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist. Optometrists are best known for providing eye exams for the purpose of prescribing glasses or contact lenses. Although most are referred to as doctors, they are doctors of optometry, abbreviated O.D., and are not medical doctors. Their scope of practice is limited to diagnosing and treating refractive disorders. Some states extend their practice to include treating glaucoma, cataracts and retinal diseases.

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who, like Dr. Kent Leavitt, have degrees either as an M.D. or like Dr. Christina Farag, who is a doctor of osteopathy, abbreviated D.O. Ophthalmologists can diagnose and treat any disease or disorder of the eyes, and the effects systemic diseases, such as diabetes, have on the eyes. Ophthalmologists are well-known as eye surgeons, providing laser surgery, cataract surgery and other surgeries, treatments, and lenses with the goal of improving vision.

Please contact Dr. Kent Leavitt at Bellevue LASIK & Cornea serving patients in Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Olympia, and Tacoma, Washington, for a complimentary consultation about how to improve your vision.