General FAQ
What are the differences between ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians?
An Ophthalmologist is a physician -- an MD or DO -- who has completed a four year undergraduate degree, a four-year medical degree, followed by a 1-year internship and 3-year (or more) residency in ophthalmology.
An Optometrist is not a medical doctor, but receives the degree of OD at a 4-year optometry school after completing four (or sometimes three) years of undergraduate study.
An Optician is a technician who has either earned a 2-year optician degree from a community college or has learned while on the job.
What is a refraction?
The refraction test is an eye exam that measures a person's prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses. This is done through a phoroptor which houses a variety of lenses. These are used to determine the power necessary to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, or difficulty with reading.
What do I need to bring to my appointment?
You can print and fill out the patient information form here to speed up the check-in process. You will need:
- A copy of your insurance card and a photo id.
- All of your current medications in their original container or a list that shows dosage and frequency for each medication
- Any paperwork from another doctor if they referred you to Stokes
- Your primary care physician's name and address
- Your pharmacy's name and address
Back to FAQ.
