Air Force optometrists perform routine eye exams and treat eye health conditions for service personnel and their families. They must have an OD degree and be licensed to practice in the US or its territories. The Air Force provides equipment, supplies, and support personnel.
An optometrist is a licensed professional who has completed a minimum of three years of graduation, followed by a four-year program at an optometry school, culminating in a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree. He or she cares about eye health and performs exams and tests to help patients maintain optimal eye health. An Air Force optometrist performs the same tasks as a civilian OD, but works as a member of the armed forces, and the patients are service personnel or members of their immediate families.
One of the most common tasks of an Air Force optometrist is to perform routine eye exams for all personnel, some of whom are pilots, although most are not. These exams usually test visual acuity and include peripheral vision checks and screening for health conditions such as glaucoma. If an irregularity is found, the Air Force optometrist will either treat the condition or refer the patient to the appropriate specialist. Often all that is needed are corrective lenses, which the Air Force optometrist can prescribe.
The doctor also evaluates and treats many eye health conditions, including infections such as pink eyes and eye injuries. The tests can detect more general health problems, including diabetes and high blood pressure, and the Air Force optometrist must be able to recognize these and refer the patient to another physician for appropriate treatment. An OD can prescribe medications to treat various issues, but the surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist, not an optometrist; therefore, cases requiring this level of intervention are referred to an Air Force ophthalmologist.
An Air Force optometrist must have received an OD from an accredited school of optometry in the United States or Canada and must also be licensed to practice in the United States or one of its territories. The doctor becomes a commissioned officer upon entering the military and receives the appropriate salaries and benefits. He or she must complete a five-week program that emphasizes physical health, adjusting to military life, and how the military health care system operates before beginning practice as an Air Force optometrist.
Working as part of the military is ideal for many optometrists, especially those fresh out of school. There are no start-up costs, no capital expenditures, no office to run and no payroll to manage. The Air Force provides all equipment and supplies, as well as support personnel and patients, and every Air Force optometrist needs to focus on providing eye care to airmen and their families.
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