Clinical optometry involves diagnosing and treating eye disorders to improve vision, using special instruments to measure vision defects and prescribing corrective lenses. Optometrists also look for injuries or illnesses that could cause vision decline and refer patients to specialists for other diseases or injuries affecting vision. They attend optometry school for four years and require a license to practice.
Clinical optometry defines the practice of diagnosing and treating eye disorders to improve vision in a clinic or similar setting. Optometry doctors use special instruments to measure vision defects and prescribe contact lenses or eyeglasses to correct the deficiencies. They may also perform minor surgery to remove foreign bodies from an eye and suggest exercises to improve how well your eyes work.
During a clinical optometry exam, doctors measure a patient’s ability to see objects at various distances, along with their ability to see color and light. An optometrist also looks for injuries or illnesses that could be linked to vision decline. He or she typically measures the pressure in the eye to detect glaucoma, a common disorder as people age, where too much fluid builds up in the eye. If left untreated, glaucoma can cause blindness.
Clinical optometry includes looking for cataracts, a condition characterized by cloudy lenses. Cataracts can cause vision loss and are also related to aging. If this disorder is discovered, the optometrist commonly refers patients to an ophthalmologist for surgery to remove the cataract. An optometrist also refers patients to doctors and specialists for other diseases or injuries affecting vision.
During an optometric clinical exam, the doctor measures the patient’s peripheral vision and looks at the shape of the retina. He or she might diagnose astigmatism caused by curvature of the retina and prescribe corrective lenses to improve vision. If the patient prefers contact lenses, the doctor usually advises the patient on their use to prevent infection.
Optometrists use different equipment when conducting an exam, including tools for measuring whether the eyes are working together. This equipment helps determine whether a patient is nearsighted or nearsighted and whether astigmatism needs correction. They might diagnose presbyopia, which defines the inability to change focus for nearby objects. Presbyopia, which means elderly eye in Greek, is a very common ailment with age and could be corrected with reading glasses. Changes in vision can be determined by comparing eye exam information with the eyeglasses or contact lens prescriptions used.
These doctors usually attend optometry school for four years after completing their undergraduate studies. They study the anatomy and physiology of the eye and eye diseases. The psychology of vision is another typical optometry school course. In most areas, a license is required to practice after completing your studies.
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