How your eye doctor can 'see' a brain tumor

My husband, who is known as a pretty healthy guy, recently began having vision issues coupled with headaches. So of course, our first thought was that he is in that 'over 40' age range now and it's probably time for glasses or an update on his Lasik eye surgery that he had 13 years ago.

He was going to head to the local Walmart and get some reading glasses to get by, but after considering that he hadn't really had an eye exam in over a decade he went to an ophthalmologist. I mean after all, if you are going to go, you may as well get the whole check-up, right?

After a thorough examination and dialation of the eyes, the doctor said he had pressure behind one eye and scheduled him for an MRI. The MRI revealed that he had a brain tumor.

We wanted to share his story in the hope that others may take general symptoms like headaches and vision issues seriously and seek advice from the right professional.

Here are the differences between an ophthalmologist, optometrist and optician:

Ophthalmologist

This is a physician who specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and visual system and in the prevention of eye disease and injury. An ophthalmologist has completed four or more years of college premedical education, four or more years of medical school, one year of internship and three or more years of specialized medical and surgical and refractive training and experience in eye care. They can diagnose general diseases of the body and treat ocular manifestations of systemic diseases.

Optometrist

These are independent primary health care providers who examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures. They examine the internal and external structure of the eyes to diagnose eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts and retinal disorders, systemic diseases like hypertension and diabetes; and vision conditions. Optometrists prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses, low vision aids, vision therapy and medicine to treat eye diseases.

Optician

This is the person that adjusts and fits optical products such as glasses. Training may be informal, on-the-job or formal apprenticeship. Others seek people with college level training.

If you haven't had a thorough eye exam for awhile, it may be a good idea to make it part of your New Year, New You resolution. So you can be the healthiest you can be for you and your family.