What Does an Optometrist Do?

Optometrists are eye doctors. Optometrists study all aspects of nonsurgical eye care in a four year program after college. Their degree is the "Doctor of Optometry" or "OD". Many people only see an Optometrist for an eye exam every year.

Other professions dedicated to eye or ocular health have similar sounding names. Opticians are technicians who primarily make and fit glasses, think pharmacist for vision. Opticians study for two years in college to learn technical and biologic aspects of eye care and eye health. Opthalmic or Optometric technicians assist eye doctors by performing part of the optometric examination. Technicians study in school or on-line for about a year after high school. Ophthalmologists are physicians who specialize in eye care. Ophthalmologists study Ophthalmology for four years after medical school. Today, the major difference between care provided by Ophthalmologists and Optometrists is that Ophthalmologists are able to provide surgical care.

Applying to Optometry school is similar to applying to Medical or Dental school. Most applicants complete at least four years of college. Many have graduate degrees. Optometry students study basic medical sciences in their first year. Medical and Dental students will recognize courses such as biochemistry, neurology, physiology. and gross anatomy. These are robust, graduate level courses. Applied courses in Optometry begin in the first year including theory of optometric testing, diabetes and glaucoma, and optics. After four years of education and practical training in the school and externship clinics, Optometrists are fully prepared to care for all manner of nonsurgical vision correction and eye health.

In the typical eye exam, the optometrist will review the patient's medical history and general health. Many medical conditions contribute to eye problems especially diabetes and high blood pressure. Then the Optometrist performs screening tests including auto-refraction (a machine estimates the vision prescription), and eye pressure (often using an "air puff" test). Then the Optometrist examines the eye lids, the cornea (the clear part of the eye over the pupil and iris), the sclera (the white of the eye), and the retina (the large nerve that lines the back of the eye). Finally, the Optometrist uses the phoropter, a complex machine with adjustable optics or lenses, to determine the exact prescription for the patient.

Optometrists work in a variety of clinical settings. Most Optometrists work in group practices with attached optical shops. By convention and by law, unless the optometrist owns the optical shop, the optometric practice and the optical business are separated physically, financially, and legally. Many optometrists own private practices with and without optical (eye wear) dispensing facilities. Some Optometrists work side by side with Ophthalmologists in hospital and private practice.

For more information on Optometry, Ophthalmology, and ocular health, please consult the website of the American Optometric Association, http://www.aoa.org/, or ask your eye doctor.