subject: Making The Right Choice For Your Optometrist [print this page] Eyesight is a tricky subject; therefore, when it is time to select an optometrist, you want a physician you can trust with your precious eye sight. Never select a random physician from the phone book; instead, talk to family, friends and coworkers about optometrists in the area that they have used or ones they would recommend. On top of recommendations, do your own research and make sure that you understand what an optometrist does and how to look for a reputable provider to take care of your precious eyesight.
What Does an Optometrist Do?
Optometrists receive specialized education in the diagnosis of conditions and diseases affecting the eyes. They are skilled in recommending treatments, and they provide comprehensive disease management. After graduating from a four-year college or university, they spend an additional four years in an accredited optometry program to obtain a professional degree. As you are choosing the optometrist that you will trust with your vision, inquire whether he or she opted to participate in a one-year residency after completing the optometry program. While this is not required, it is certainly valuable and a sign that your optometrist is highly qualified. Keep in mind that optometrists don't go to medical school, so they are not given AMA (American Medical Association) certification, and they don't have a medical degree.
When you visit your optometrist, he or she will examine your eyes inside and out for such diseases as glaucoma, retinal detachment, infections, and cataracts. Should it be determined that your eyes have been impacted by one of these conditions, your optometrist will refer you to a qualified eye surgeon. Optometrists cannot perform surgery themselves.
Vision Conditions
On top of diagnosing illness and ailments associated with the eyes, optometrists can also diagnose and treat common vision conditions such as farsightedness, nearsightedness and presbyopia. Optometrists can also test and diagnose an individual for trouble focusing or eye coordination if requested.
Optometrists are able to prescribe contact lenses, eyeglasses, vision aids, vision therapy and medications for specific eye conditions - as long as they do not require any invasive surgical procedures before application. There are instances where an optometrist will work in the same office as an ophthalmologist, which then takes away the need for an outside consult if a surgical or invasive procedure is required.
What to Look For
As you make your final selection in optometrists for yourself and your family, be sure that the practice you choose is full-service. For convenience, you will want an optometrist that offers diagnosis and treatment for infection and disease, as well as standard vision correction. Many individuals find themselves in need of an ophthalmologist at least once after the age of 45, when most eye-related issues turn up. That means you may be better off with an optometrist/ophthalmologist combination office for easier coordination of services.
You can check for a reputable optometrist in your area by visiting review boards or even local yellow pages offered online where customers can leave feedback on their experiences. Often the best place to find a reputable physician, however, is by word of mouth.
