The most important thing you can do to maintain healthy eyes is to have them examined on a regular basis by a Board Certified Ophthalmologist. Most patients with eye disease don’t have visual problems. Seeing well doesn't necessarily mean that your eyes are healthy. That’s why an Ophthalmologist looks for systemic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and thyroid disease.

At the The Pinke Center for Eye Health, Dr. Pinke performs a thorough, multi-step examination on every patient. We often find macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, retinal tears and cataracts in their early stages — prior to symptoms developing — when these conditions are best treated to prevent future visual disability.

An Ophthalmologist is a true physician.
He or she has four years of general medical training at a medical school and receives a full medical degree as an MD. In addition, Ophthalmologists spend another year Interning in general medicine or surgery. These five years of training provide the medical background and experience required to understand not only how the eye functions, but how medical conditions affect the eyes. Following the five years of training after college, an Ophthalmologist enters a three year residency program, during which they become experts in all aspects of medical and surgical eye diseases, as well as routine well eye care, contacts, and refraction for glasses.

An Optometrist has an OD degree from an Optometry school.
Optometric training involves four years of non-surgical study of optics and general eye disease. Optometrists receive a degree as a Dr. of Optometry, but are not medical physicians. They have never attended medical school, are not trained in performing eye surgery and may have varied knowledge of eye diseases. Even more confusing to consumers, in many states, Optometrists are licensed to prescribe medications after taking classroom courses in drug therapy. Optometrists are very good at what they do: routine eye care and refraction for glasses and contact lenses. Many optometrists in recent years have received significant training allowing them to treat routine eye problems. In some states, including Connecticut, Optometrists who are recent grduates or who have taken additional courses are able to prescribe medications and treat a variety of diseases including medication treatment of glaucoma. They are not true physicians. Most refer significant eye diseases to Ophthalmologists for medical or surgical treatment.