Optometrists

Have you recently visited an eye center for an eye check-up? If you had, the person who checked your eyes is most probably an optometrist. An optometrist or doctor of optometry is the main provider of vision care.

As the main providers of vision care, optometrists are responsible for:

• examining people's eyes to diagnose vision problems;
• testing patient's depth and color perception and ability to focus and coordinate the eyes;
• prescribing eyeglasses or contact lenses;
• providing treatments such as vision therapy or low-vision rehabilitation; and
• providing preoperative and postoperative care to cataract patients and those who have had laser vision correction or other eye surgery.

Optometrists, however, should not be confused with ophthalmologists or dispensing opticians. An ophthalmologist is a physician who treats eye diseases and injuries and performs eye surgery. A dispensing optician fits and adjusts eyeglasses and may also fit contact lenses according to prescriptions made by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

To become an optometrist, a Doctor of Optometry degree is necessary. A person who wants to become an optometrist must complete the 4-year degree program at an accredited optometry school. In the United States, optometrists are required to have a license. Besides having a Doctor of Optometry degree, applicants for a license must also pass both a written National Board examination and a national, regional and state clinical examination. Licenses are renewed every 1 to 3 years.

Although most optometrists are in general practice, there are some who specialize in visual devices and vision therapy while a few teach optometry, perform research or serve as consultants.