Optometry

Encyclopedia : O : OP : OPT : Optometry

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Optometry is the health care profession concerned with examination, diagnosis, and treatment of the eyes and related structures, and with determination and correction of vision problems using lenses and other optical aids [link].

An optometrist (Greek: optos meaning seen or visible and metria meaning measurement) is an eye care professional who is a primary care practitioner for most vision and ocular health concerns. Optometrists are trained to diagnose, manage, and treat a multitude of visual and ocular health-related concerns, including, but not limited to, fitting and prescribing glasses and contact lenses, diagnosing and treating (excluding surgery) muscular abnormalities, treating minor ocular injuries, diagnosing and treating diseases such as glaucoma and diagnosing others such as diabetic retinopathy. In Oklahoma, optometrists perform certain laser procedures.

Optometrists are experts in determining one's refractive error and prescribing the appropriate correction. In the United States they perform comprehensive eye exams and diagnose and treat many of the most common eye disorders whether they be visual or physical. As with all medical practitioners, referrals are made when more specialized care is needed.

In the United States, ophthalmologist and optometrist are specific terms referring to specific state licensing and courses of professional study. Optometrists are allied health professionals who complete optometry school (a 4 year graduate program) and receive the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree. They are required to receive board certification, and some go on to complete post-graduate residencies. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (MD or DO) who have completed medical school (a 4 year graduate program) followed by a 3-4 year surgical residency in ophthalmology. Some ophthalmologists further their education with advanced training (a fellowship) in a specific subspecialty of ophthalmology. The American Optometric Association characterizes optometrists as "primary eye care providers." Ophthalmogists are trained to perform eye surgery ranging from minor procedures to advanced surgical interventions. There is overlap in the capabilities of the two professions to treat eye disease with pharmacological agents and minor procedures.

In the United Kingdom optometrists have completed a 3 or 4 year undergraduate honours degree followed by a minimum of a one-year "pre-registration period" where they complete supervised practice under the supervision of an experienced qualified practitioner. During this year the Pre-Registration candidate will sit a number of quarterly assessments and on successfully passing all of these assessments a final one-day set of exams. Following successful completion of these assessments and having completed one year's supervised practice the candidate qualifies for membership of The College of Optometrists and is eligible to register as an optometrist with the General Optical Council.

Registration with the GOC is mandatory to practise in the UK. Members of the College of Optometrists may use the suffix MCOptom.

Sub-specialities

There are currently nine sub-specialty residencies offered by various schools of optometry in the United States [link] [link]:

• Cornea and contact lenses
• Family practice optometry
• Geriatric optometry
• Low vision rehabilitation
• Ocular disease
• Pediatric optometry
• Primary care
• Refractive and ocular surgery
• Vision therapy and rehabilitation

Many aspects of vision therapy have a questionable scientific foundation. Please see http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/eyequack.html

Training in binocular vision and orthoptics sub-specialties are often integrated into either pediatric or vision therapy programs. The College of Optometrists in Vision Development provides board certification for eye doctors in vision therapy, behavioral and developmental vision care, and "visual rehabilitation" [link].

Schools of optometry

Australia

There are 3 Australian educational institutions offering degrees in optometry:

• University of Melbourne [link]
• University of New South Wales [link]
• Queensland University of Technology [link]

Canada

There are 2 Canadian educational institutions offering degrees in optometry:

• University of Waterloo School of Optometry, Ontario [link]
• Université de Montréal, Québec [link]

Hong Kong

There is currently 1 university offering bachelor's degree in optometry and graduate degree in visual science:

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University [link]

India

There is currently one well established optometry school that follows closely with American optometry schools:

• The Elite School of Optometry [link]

Ireland (Republic)

There is currently only one higher institution in the Republic of Ireland offering an optometry degree programme:

• Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland [link]

There is however an optometry degree offered at the University of Ulster at Coleraine in Northern Ireland (which is part of the United Kingdom) which many students from the Republic attend. (see United Kingdom below)

Malaysia

Currently there are 3 educational institutions offering degrees in optometry:

• National University Of Malaysia [link]
• International Islamic University Malaysia [link]
• International University College Of Technology Twintech [link]

New Zealand

There is 1 New Zealand educational institution that offers a degree in optometry:

• University of Auckland [link]

Taiwan

There is currently 1 university offering a bachelor's degree in optometry and 2 educational institutions offering an associate degree in optometry:

• Chung Shan Medical University [link]
• Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management [link]
• Shu-Zen College of Medicine and Management [link]

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

There are 8 United Kingdom educational institutions offering degrees in optometry. Five are located in England with one optometry school in each of Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland:

England

• Anglia Ruskin University - Cambridge [link]
• University of Aston - Birmingham [link]
• University of Bradford [link]
• City University - London [link]
• University of Manchester [link]

Wales

• Cardiff University [link]

Scotland

• Glasgow Caledonian University [link]

Northern Ireland

• University of Ulster - Coleraine campus on the scenic north coast of Ireland [link]

United States of America

There are 17 American educational institutions offering doctorate level programs in optometry. The programs generally have an undergraduate degree as a prerequisite, and then run four years addressing academic and clinical topics.

• University of Alabama at Birmingham [link]
• University of California, Berkeley [link]
• University of Missouri, St. Louis [link]
• University of Houston [link]
• Illinois College of Optometry [link]
• Indiana University [link]
• Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, School of Optometry [link]
• Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University [link]
• New England College of Optometry [link]
• Northeastern State University [link]
• Nova Southeastern University [link]
• Ohio State University [link]
• Pacific University [link]
• Pennsylvania College of Optometry [link]
• Southern California College of Optometry [link]
• Southern College of Optometry [link]
• State University of New York [link]

See also

• Eyeglass prescription

External links

• [Comprehensive Optometry Site (AU)]
• [American Academy of Optometry]
• [American Optometric Association]
• [College of Optometrists (UK)]
• [The General Optical Council]
• [Optometrists Network]
• [Review of Optometry]
• [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Optometry Page]

 

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