What Kinds of Services Do Optometrists Provide?

Page 1

Introduction Optometrists are doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating vision problems. They are trained to detect eye diseases and disorders as well as treat them.

Routine vision checkups Routine vision checkups are a quick way to keep your eyes healthy and functioning at their best. Optometrists ask about your general health and lifestyle habits, as well as what symptoms you have experienced lately. They also perform tests that evaluate the health of the eye, including: ● Pupil reaction test—examining how quickly a person's pupils respond when exposed to light ● Eye pressure measurement—measuring intraocular pressure in each eye to detect glaucoma or other eye conditions ● Refraction—checking for astigmatism, nearsightedness and farsightedness ● Visual field examination—checking for blind spots in both eyes

Contact lens exams Contact lens exams are another common service optometrists provide. They’re especially important because contact lenses can put your eyes at risk for corneal ulcers and abrasions, which are the most common causes of corneal ulcers and abrasions. You should visit an optometrist if you have questions about contact lenses or if you experience any problems with your eyes while wearing them. An optometrist can perform a thorough exam to determine whether or not the contact lenses are causing any damage to your eyes, as well as prescribe treatment options if necessary.

Glaucoma testing Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve, which sends information from the eye to the brain. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in adults in all races worldwide and is one of the major causes of blindness among African Americans over age 40. Glaucoma takes many forms: open-angle glaucoma, closed-angle glaucoma and secondary glaucoma. The most common form is open-angle glaucoma (OAG), an eye disease where high pressure builds up inside your eyes because it can't drain properly through tiny channels called trabecular meshwork. The resulting damage to your optic nerve results in gradual loss of peripheral vision and blindness if left untreated."

Eye disease diagnosis and treatment Optometrists help patients with eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and more. They also provide treatment for any injuries that may happen to your eyes.

Vision therapy ● If you have problems seeing the blackboard in class or have trouble seeing things clearly when reading a book, optometrists might suggest vision therapy. ● You don't need to be diagnosed with lazy eye (amblyopia) to benefit from this type of treatment. Vision therapy can help many people improve their eye health and vision, including people with learning disabilities such as dyslexia and ADHD. ● Vision therapists use special tools like prisms and filters to give the brain more information about focusing accurately. A therapist may also ask you to wear colored lenses while performing exercises designed to improve your eyesight without glasses or contacts.

Optometrists can help you with many of your eye problems. If you have any vision problems, an optometrist can help. They can provide care for routine eye exams, contact lens fittings and repairs, glaucoma testing and treatment, and more. In addition to these services, they may also offer vision therapy if you have problems with your eyesight due to a condition such as nearsightedness or farsightedness. The best way to find out if you need an appointment with an optometrist is by making one!

Conclusion The bottom line is that optometrists are the best people to see if you have any eye problems. They can help you get rid of many common vision issues and make sure that your eyes stay healthy and strong for years to come.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
What Kinds of Services Do Optometrists Provide? by AussieSpecs - Issuu