Optometrist
An optometrist provides primary healthcare for eyes. They monitor and help correct eye changes that affect your sight and well-being.
What Is an Optometrist?
An optometrist is a doctor of optometry (O.D.) licensed to provide basic eye care. They’re the type of doctor you typically see for your annual eye exam.
Optometrists help you maintain general eye health. They examine your eyes for vision acuity and signs of injury or disease, and they can monitor for vision problems related to your general health.
They may also refer you to a specialist, such as an ophthalmologist, for additional care. Ophthalmologists are eye doctors who specialize in surgery and complicated eye conditions.
Optometrist Education and Training
After completing a four-year undergraduate degree, aspiring optometrists attend optometry school, which takes another four years to complete. Some optometrists will then complete a one-year residency.
Before an optometrist is licensed to practice, they must pass an extensive national examination and, in some cases, a state or local exam as well. Some will also choose to obtain certification from the American Board of Optometry.
What Does an Optometrist Do?
Optometrists first assess your medical history and the history of your eyes to determine if there are any concerns about your vision or eye health. They then perform in-depth eye exams that look carefully at how well you can see and how healthy your eyes are. This includes visual acuity tests and eye structure examinations.
Your optometrist provides education and instruction on how to best care for your eyes. If necessary, they prescribe corrective lenses to help you see more clearly.
Optometrists can also diagnose, monitor and help treat some eye conditions. They can prescribe certain topical eye medications as well. They cannot, however, perform any type of surgical procedure on the eye.
What Conditions Does an Optometrist Treat?
In addition to general eye health and vision care, optometrists may also provide the following types of care:
- Low vision care for those whose eyesight is irreversibly poor
- Vision training and therapy for impaired eye coordination
- Counseling and care for developing cataracts, glaucoma and other vision changes
- Treatment for eye infections or damage
How Often Should You See an Optometrist?
It’s important to establish a relationship with an optometrist you trust and see them regularly, even if you feel your vision hasn’t changed. Regular eye exams help your optometrist detect small changes in your eyes and vision so that any issues can be slowed or repaired. Most people should get a general eye exam at least once a year.
You should also make an appointment as soon as possible if you experience:
- Eye pain
- Blurred or double vision
- Red, irritated eyes without a known cause, like seasonal allergies
- Glaring or circles around lights at night
- A lot of floaters or specks in your vision
- Flashes of light
- Vision that grows brighter or darker without cause
- Light sensitivity
- Any noticeable, sudden change in your vision
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Optometrists Doctors?
How Long Does It Take to Become an Optometrist?
What Is the Difference Between an Optometrist and an Ophthalmologist?
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (MDs) or osteopathic doctors (DOs). They can provide all the basic eye care that an optometrist can, but they can also treat more serious conditions and perform surgery. You will typically be referred to an ophthalmologist for advanced eye care that an optometrist cannot provide.
