Ophthalmologist vs Optomitrist

For those of you who don't know the difference in who provides your eye care. An Opththalmologist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) specializing in the prevention, diagnosis, and medical as well as surgical treatment of vision problems and eye diseases. The Ophthalmolgist has completed a 1 year internship after graduation from medical school and at least 3 years of specialized ophthalmology training, called a residency in ophthalmology. Often, the ophthalmologist has also completed a fellowship (another 1 or 2 years of training) after residency in preparation for practice in a sub specialty area of ophthalmology. Some of these sub-specialties are Retinal, Corneal, Lids, Glaucoma, Neuro, Pediatric, and Cataract ophthalmologists. There are several General Ophthalmogists which can handle all of the above classifications, but when someone does not respond to treatment or has severe disease, they will be referred by a general ophthalmologist to a specialist.
The Optometrist is a independent practitioner who has completed a course of 4 years in optometry school after 3 or 4 years in college. Optometrists are trained in the prescription of eyeglasses an contacts lenses as well as in the detection of eye disease. In some states, optometrists may diagnose and medically treat some eye diseases, although they do not have a medical degree. Optometrists do not perform surgery.
I would like you to know that I have dealt with both in my 20 years experience, more extensively with ophthalmologists. There are good and bad in both fields. If you see an optometrist, make sure they are up to date with the newest diagnostic and treatment options. Be careful of optometrists associated with chain retailers, they are paid according to sales of contacts and glasses along with the number of exams they do each day, so they quality of the exam is not the same quality as that of an independent optometrist who is concerned with their patent's eye health not just "how many exams they can do in one day". The same goes for the ophthalmologist, there are some that will try to see as many patient's they can in a day to make more money and are not generally concerned about a patients specific needs.
Take notice to how long your doctor spends with you, do they stay to answer all of your questions and explain what is going on with your eyes? or do they run in, do a quick exam and run out again. Some of you think that if a doctor is that busy then they "must be good", this is not necessarily the case. A good doctor either ophthalmologist or optometrist takes time with their patients, answers all their questions and does an through eye exam.
The optician is an independent professional who has received 2 years of trainig before being licensed to make (dispense) eyeglasses and contact lenses accounding to prescriptions supplied by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. They cannot perform an eye exam.