The entire visual system, all eye diseases, and injuries are attended to by the optometrists. Eyeglasses as well as contact lenses are prescribed by them. The role of an optometrist is to examine carefully, diagnose rightly, treat accurately, and manage disorders with care.
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| Optometrist |
The Job Nature of an Optometrist
- The professional is primarily expected to deliver services on organizing vision tests and analyzing the results. Further, they diagnose all kinds of sight problems like far-sightedness nearsightedness, and glaucoma.
- The presence of diabetes can be identified, and patients are referred to other healthcare providers by these medical professionals.
- They also prescribe glasses, contact lenses, es and advice on medication, and offer treatment for vision therapy or rehabilitation of low vision.
- They provide care (pre and post-operative) to patients who are undergoing eye surgery. The optometrist also provides counseling to patients to promote eye health.
Importance of Optometrists
- Optometrists and ophthalmologists or dispensing opticians are not the same profession. They are physicians who treat eye problems and diseases besides normal examination of the eye. The performance of eye surgery and treatment of eye diseases are also done by optometrists.
- Eyeglasses and contact lenses are taken by patients in consultation with the optometrists. In some countries dispensing opticians are found to fit and make adjustments to eyeglasses and then again in some states, fill the contact lens prescription written by the optometrist or the ophthalmologist.
- As vision challenges occur later in life, it is the aged who require the attention of the optometrists. When a person starts aging, he becomes susceptible to impaired vision like cataracts and muscular degeneration.
- Also, lifestyle diseases have been taking a toll on the eyes of the modern population and chronic diseases like diabetes is widespread. Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that impacts vision as it affects the blood vessels of the eye and may lead to loss of vision. There is a need for more optometrists to monitor, treat and attend to these individuals with such chronic conditions.
Qualities of an Optometrist:
Above all, there are certain qualities that optometrists must possess. These are as mentioned below-
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| Optometrist |
#1. Decision-making skills: Analysis and evaluation of sight problems.
#2. Interpersonal skills: Any person dealing with health care must first be able to make his patient feel at ease.
#3. Strong verbal communication: Eye care instructions must be explained to the patients well and the optometrist must also be to give satisfactory answers to all the questions raised by the patients.
Career Options
- Specialized service: There is some optometrists who spend a lot of time providing specialized services. For example, few optometrists treat patients with partial sight. This condition is called low vision. Some may concentrate on treating children or even infants.
- Private practice: A large number of optometrists have their own private practice and tend to spend quite some time on the general management of their private practice. Hiring employees, ordering supplies, and marketing business activities are some key activities performed by the optometrist.
- Consultants or academics: They are also found to work as postsecondary tutors or as consultants in the eye care segment. Research in optometry colleges are also done by optometrists who are academically inclined.
With the pollution hazards faced by major towns and cities in today’s world and the increased stress faced by the modern population, most people are faced with lifestyle diseases. This requires the steady guidance of an optometrist to cure the growing with their diverse eye problems. Also, with the increased number of insurance companies and the myriad plans they offer in the name of medical insurance, there does exist insurance coverage pertaining to eye and vision care.
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