What is an Optometrist?

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.

Why See An Optometrist?

The ability to see is considered by most people as their most important sense. Preserving your eye health and enhancing your vision is the goal of Kentucky’s doctors of optometry. These men and women have dedicated their lives to caring for the eyes of the people of Kentucky.

Most Kentuckians receive their primary eye care from their local doctor of optometry. Optometrists practice in 107 of Kentucky’s counties and are readily accessible. Many people get confused about the differences in eye care providers. The following information will help you understand what your optometrist is qualified to do and make you a more knowledgeable consumer of eye care.

Many people only think of their optometrist as the doctor to see when they need glasses or contact lenses. Optometrists do much more.

Doctors of optometry treat and manage eye diseases. As doctors, they regularly diagnose diseases both of the eye and the body. Many systemic diseases like diabetes or high blood pressure are first found by optometrists during a comprehensive eye exam.

Optometrists in Kentucky are licensed to examine your eyes for any vision defects or any eye diseases. Their eight-year training prepares them to diagnose and treat eye diseases and injuries as well as to prescribe glasses, contact lenses, and other devices to enhance your vision. When they determine there is a problem, they can prescribe medications or other appropriate therapies. As part of your health care team, your doctor of optometry will work with your family physician and other medical professionals to coordinate your care.

What Services Do Doctors Of Optometry Provide?

• Examine eyes for health and vision problems
• Diagnose and treat eye disease
• Detect and identify general health problems manifested in the eye (like diabetes)
• Coordinate care with other health care providers to track diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure
• Diagnose and treat glaucoma
• Diagnose cataracts; coordinate with eye surgeon; provide post-operative care
• Remove foreign bodies from the eye
• Treat eye injuries and arrange for surgical care if needed
• Provide emergency treatment for eye accidents
• Prescribe glasses and contact lenses
• Prescribe glasses or other devices for specialized vision needs like hunting, computer work, etc.
• Provide specialized vision aids for the visually impaired
• Provide rehabilitative services for victims of head injuries with impaired vision
• Work with athletes to improve eye/hand coordination
• Evaluate eye coordination for reading and provide visual therapy to improve reading skills
• Provide care for persons with artificial eyes
• Evaluate and coordinate care for refractive surgery patients (e.g. radial keratotomy or excimer laser)
• Set up safety vision programs for industry
• Consult with businesses on environmental vision
• Work with schools on vision screenings, career days, programs on eye care
• Provide educational programs for civic groups and schools
• Work with health fairs and community groups to provide vision screenings

What Education Do Doctors Of Optometry Receive?

To learn to diagnose and treat diseases of the eye and vision problems, doctors of optometry go to four years of college and then four more years at a college of optometry where they study the eye and its relationship to the rest of the body.

Since the Commonwealth of Kentucky does not have an optometry school, the Kentucky Council on Higher Education arranges with optometry schools in neighboring states to purchase contracts for a set number of Kentucky students to be part of each school’s entering classes each year. Currently Kentucky optometry students have contracts at Indiana University, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Southern College of Optometry in Memphis. Other Kentucky students attend Ohio State University, Illinois College of Optometry and other nearby colleges of optometry.

Doctors of Optometry must undergo an intense regimen of educational and clinical training comparable to their colleagues in the medical and dental fields. In fact, the undergraduate requirements for admittance to an accredited optometry school are very similar to that of admission requirements into medical or dental schools.

Once in optometry school, students study a curriculum very similar to that of medical or dental school. Since optometrists are an integral part of the primary health care team, their education also includes human anatomy, general and ocular pharmacology, general pathology, sensory and perceptual psychology, bio-chemistry, human physiology, epidemiology and laser procedures and technology. In addition to these subjects, optometric education includes the study of advanced optics and extensive education in the application of light and vision. Optometric students spend many hours in clinical settings, learning first hand to diagnose and treat patient’s eye problems. Upon graduation from optometry school, many of today’s students do rotations in hospitals or specialized eye clinics. Others do post-doctoral work in a specialty area.

Optometric education has changed dramatically over the years. As in all health care fields, the rapid advance of research and technology requires the schools to constantly upgrade courses to keep today’s doctor of optometry on the cutting edge of health care.

Optometry licensure laws across the nation are changing to enable today’s optometrists to practice to the fullest scope of their training.

How Do Optometrists Compare To The Other Medical Professionals?

Optometrists, physicians, and dentists are subject to the same types of regulation and oversight to assure quality care.

Optometric education closely parallels that of other independent doctoral level practitioners like dentists, podiatrists and physicians. Optometry schools are accredited by the same organizations that accredit other health care schools.

Optometrists must pass National Board Examinations and testing by the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners to get a license to practice in Kentucky.  Each year, doctors of optometry are required to submit proof of attendance of at least 15 hours of continuing education to get their license renewed.

Optometrists are reimbursed as health care providers by government programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Worker’s Compensation where they provide the same primary eye care services as physicians. They also are qualified to render opinions on vision for driver’s licensing, legal blindness, etc. Optometrists serve on Health Department Boards across the state.

Many private insurance plans and HMOs use optometrists to provide not only vision care (routine exams and glasses) but also to take care of eye health problems like eye infections and glaucoma.

Optometrists are subject to Quality Assurance mechanisms and peer review in both government and private health care programs.

Optometrists are subject to all the same requirements as physicians, dentists, and other independently practicing doctors regarding fee disclosures, records release, etc., by the Kentucky Health Care Policy Board.

Doctors of optometry will be held to the same standards of care as physicians who specialize in eye care under the Practice Parameters for certain eye care conditions adopted by the Kentucky Health Care Policy Board.  Doctors of optometry carry malpractice insurance, as do other health care professionals.

Optometry Rated #2 "Excellent" Career in 2006

Earlier in 2006, U.S. News and World Report named the profession of optometry as the second best career in the "excellent" category in a guide to careers that appeared on their Website, www.usnews.com, in January.  In the report, optometry is referred to as  a "one-on-one helping career that will serve the massive numbers of boomers."

According to the report, the ratings are based on both subjective and objective criteria, with much of the objective information coming from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook and the subjective information coming from the author's interviews and discussions with clients.

The full report can be accessed at www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/060105/5bestcareers.htm.

For more information on Optometry, contact the following:

American Optometric Association
243 North Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO  63141
Phone: 314-991-4100
www.theaoa.org

The American Optometric Student Association
www.theaosa.org

Association of Schools & Colleges of Optometry
6110 Executive Blvd. Suite 510
Phone: 301-231-5944
www.opted.org