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DID YOU KNOW?
Half of all blindness can be prevented, yet the number of people suffering vision loss continues to increase. Having an annual eye exam is crucial in protecting your and your family’s eyesight. These annual exams allow your doctor to detect changes in the front of your eye so alterations can be made to your eyeglass or contact lens prescription. However, your doctor also needs to look at the back of your eye, the retina, to check that it is healthy and not damaged or showing signs of disease. Many eye diseases, if detected early, can be treated successfully without total vision loss.
Half of all blindness can be prevented, yet the number of people suffering vision loss continues to increase. Having an annual eye exam is crucial in protecting your and your family’s eyesight. These annual exams allow your doctor to detect changes in the front of your eye so alterations can be made to your eyeglass or contact lens prescription. However, your doctor also needs to look at the back of your eye, the retina, to check that it is healthy and not damaged or showing signs of disease. Many eye diseases, if detected early, can be treated successfully without total vision loss.
What are Optometrists?
Optometrists are independent, primary health care providers who examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures as well as diagnose related systemic conditions.
Optometrists are an integral part of the health care team. As eye care practitioners, they are skilled in the co-management of eye health and vision care. They examine the structures of the eye to detect and diagnose:
- Vision conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia
- Binocular vision conditions such as convergence insufficiency, which can cause eye discomfort and difficulty reading
- Eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts and retinal disorders
- Systemic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes
Optometrists prescribe and/or provide eyeglasses, contact lenses, low vision aids and vision therapy. They prescribe medications to treat eye diseases and perform certain surgical procedures. Optometrists also do testing to determine the patient's ability to focus and coordinate the eye, judge depth perception, and see colors accurately.
O.D. Education and TrainingThe profession of optometry is dedicated to preserving sight. In the last 25 years, the eight-year college and postgraduate program leading to the Doctor of Optometry degree has been enhanced to include extensive course work and clinical training in the following areas:
- Pharmacology
- Neurology
- Pathology
- Ocular Diseases Diagnosis and treatment
- Optometrists with Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agent (TPA) certification are qualified to manage patients with a diverse range of symptoms and pathology.