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We all have Right to have healthy Sight!

Frequently asked questions

What is Optometry or Optometrist?

As defined by WCO & WHO,

"Optometry is a healthcare profession that is autonomous, educated, and regulated (licensed/registered), and Optometrists are the primary healthcare practitioners of the eye and visual system who provide comprehensive eye and vision care, which includes refraction and dispensing, detection/diagnosis and management of disease in the eye, and the rehabilitation of conditions of the visual system''

What are the role of an Optometrist in Healthcare?

An optometrist typically:

Evaluates a patient’s medical and vision history

Educates the patient about eye and vision disease prevention and health

Performs a comprehensive eye and vision exam and evaluates blood pressure

Performs and interprets specialized eye tests

Diagnoses and often treats acute and chronic eye diseases and conditions that affect vision, including eye injuries, vision problems, cataracts, and glaucoma

Screens for conditions that increase the risk of eye and vision conditions including diabetes and high blood pressure

Prescribes eye glasses, contacts, and certain medications

Refers patients to an ophthalmologist for serious eye problems and most eye surgeries

Performs laser or glaucoma surgeries in some cases

Provides eye and vision care before and after eye surgery

An optometrist may also be known by the following names: eye doctor, vision care specialist, and Doctor of Optometry (OD).

Who should see an optometrist?

People should see an optometrist on a regular basis throughout their lifetime to prevent, detect and treat eye and vision problems. In most cases, an optometrist can take care of your basic eye and vision health needs, such as vision testing and prescriptions for eyeglasses and contacts.

While optometrists are skilled in detecting serious eye diseases, they are not MDs and do not perform complex eye procedures or surgery. An optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist—an MD specializing in eye care—for advanced treatment.

Seeing an experienced optometrist for early treatment or preventive care before serious eye or vision problems occur is the best way to reduce the risk of permanent eye damage and vision loss.

When should you see an optometrist?

You should see an optometrist under the following situations:

1. You wear eyeglasses or contact lenses and have not had your yearly exam.

2. Your baby is six months old or older and has not had an eye exam.

3. Your child is three years old or older and has not had an eye exam from a pediatrician or an optometrist in two years.

4. You are an adult and have not had an eye exam in two years.

5. You are older than 60 and have not had your yearly exam.

You should also consider seeing an optometrist if you develop any of the following symptoms or conditions:

1. Blood in your eye

2. Eye dryness

3. Eye or eyelid discharge or crustiness

4. Eye pain, tearing or itching

5. Gradual change in vision including blurriness, double vision, flashes of light, and spots in your vision

What conditions and diseases does an optometrist treat?

An optometrist diagnoses and may treat the following conditions and diseases that involve the eye and vision. In some cases, an optometrist will provide initial treatment and then refer patients to an ophthalmologist—a medical doctor (MD) or osteopathic doctor (DO)—for advanced care. :

Conditions include:

Eye coordination, alignment or movement problems including strabismus (crossed eyes), amblyopia (lazy eye), and nystagmus (uncontrollable eye movement)

Eye diseases including glaucoma (increased pressure inside the eye) and cataracts (clouding of the lens)

Eye injuries including burns and foreign objects in the eye

Infections and inflammation including conjunctivitis (pink eye), cornea infection, blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids), and uveitis (inflammation of the middle layer of the eye)

Retinal disorders including diabetic retinopathy, detached or torn retina, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinoblastoma (childhood eye cancer), and retinitis pigmentosa (inherited disorder)

Tear problems including dry eye, blocked tear ducts, and overproduction of tears