What is an Optometrist?
An optometrist is a health care provider who has extensive training in eyecare. He or she has completed three to four years of undergraduate training including courses in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Psychology. After completing these prerequisite courses he or she then enters formal optometric education. At the present time there are sixteen schools and colleges of Optometry in the US. Optometry school is four years in length. In general, the first two years are spent in classroom and laboratory work and the third and fourth years are spent in various clinical settings caring for patients of all types. Some Optometrists also spend an optional fifth year studying a subspecialty such as advanced contact lenses, pediatric optometry, geriatric optometry, low vision rehabilitation or hospital based optometry.
The profession of optometry is regulated by individual states. Because of this, the scope of optometric practice varies from one state to another. In forty seven states optometrists are allowed by law to diagnose and treat eye disease. All fifty states are expected to allow optometrists to diagnose and treat eye disease in the near future. The traditional image of the optometrist as the person "who prescribes glasses and fits contact lenses" has changed to the person "who takes care of all of my eyecare needs." In many cases your optometrist will be able to refer you to the appropriate surgeon if necessary, and then will be able to care for you as you recover from surgery. This is often done when cataract surgery is needed, or if a patient chooses to have refractive surgery performed.
Optometry is an exciting and dynamic field. The best source for information about your eyes and eye disease is your family optometrist.
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