Certified Ophthalmic Assistant Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

A patient with a history of split vision, which can indicate issues such as diplopia or other visual disturbances, may benefit from being referred to an ophthalmologist. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye care, including the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and disorders. They possess the skills necessary to perform comprehensive eye exams, diagnose conditions, and provide medical and surgical treatments as needed for various eye conditions.

While an optometrist also provides eye care and can evaluate vision-related issues, an ophthalmologist has the additional training to address complex cases that might involve underlying medical conditions. A neurologist may also be consulted if the split vision is suspected to have a neurological basis, but the primary evaluation for visual symptoms typically starts with an ophthalmologist.

An orthoptist focuses on the non-surgical treatment of eye movement disorders and may work alongside an ophthalmologist but is not usually the first point of contact for diagnosing split vision.