For those who went from ophthalmologist to retina specialist, do they both perform the same monitoring tests??

Hi . Such a great question! From what I understand, a retina specialist is an ophthalmologist who has undergone additional training. It would be interesting learn how that extra training impacts their testing and treatment of macular degeneration. - Lori (Team Member)

We have many pamphlet handouts covering various conditions at our office. One of them is entitled "What is an Ophthalmologist," because many do not know. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in the eye. Retina specialists add an additional year, or usually two years in the case of vitreoretinal surgeons, of training. The American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) web site has a highly informational video on the subject entitled "What is a Retina Specialist?" https://www.asrs.org/patients/what-is-a-retina-specialist

ASRS answers the question as follows:


Retina specialists are highly skilled physicians and surgeons committed to helping people with retinal conditions preserve and improve their vision so they can see for a lifetime.

A retina specialist is a medical doctor who has specialized in ophthalmology and sub-specialized in diseases and surgery of the vitreous body of the eye and the retina. This subspecialty is sometimes known as vitreoretinal medicine.

Retina specialists are highly trained. They must complete medical school and specialized training in ophthalmology, as well as vitreoretinal training. This includes:

Medical school - 4 years
Internship - 1 year
Ophthalmology residency - 3 years
Retina-Vitreous fellowship - 1 or 2 years

What does a retina specialist do?

Retina specialists diagnose retinal diseases using highly technical equipment and testing. They work in both hospitals and clinics treating a wide variety of eye conditions in both adults and children.
Medical and surgical procedures used by retina specialists are extremely sophisticated, including delicate surgeries on tissue thinner than a butterfly’s wing.

Retina specialists treat conditions ranging from age-related macular degeneration and retinal detachment to cancers of the eye. They also treat patients who have experienced severe eye trauma as well as children and adults with hereditary diseases of the eye.

Common conditions and diseases retina specialists treat:

Age-related macular degeneration
Diabetic retinopathy
Macular hole/pucker
Retinal detachment

All retina specialists are ophthalmologists. Both are medical doctors who have completed a one-year internship followed by a three-year residency in ophthalmology. Retina specialists complete an additional year of fellowship (typically medical retina) or two years of fellowship (vitreoretinal surgery). This is distinct from optometrists, who have not gone to medical school and are not medical doctors.

You can verify training and find a retina specialist on the American Society of Retina Specialists website, www.asrs.org. The most appropriate physician to follow patients with macular degeneration is a retina specialist.