A general surgeon is a medical professional who performs surgery on patients. General surgeons typically perform common surgeries and have attended college and medical school to learn the skills needed to perform them successfully. They also care for their patients before and after operations and can give an accurate prognosis after the surgery is complete and the patient has had time to heal.

Optometry is a medical profession that deals with the eyes and eye health. Optometrists can look at patients’ eyes to address abnormalities or irregularities as well as diagnose diseases of the eye. These doctors may also refer patients to surgeons who can correct eye problems. While optometrists do also focus on helping people find corrective lenses that can improve their vision, their focus extends far beyond glasses and contacts to include overall eye health, including management of eye diseases.