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What is an optometrist?

Doctors of Optometry (ODs) are primary eye care providers. These physicians, commonly known as optometrists, are trained to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and abnormalities of the visual system, the eye, and adjacent structures. They also identify and treat relevant systemic ailments that impact the eye.

Advancements in technology have aided the profession in broadening its scope and improving efficacy—the various developments in eye care and medical technology aid optometrists in delivering better treatment to their patients. For example, in recent years, the types of contact lenses and lens treatments have grown and improved. New techniques such as laser surgery to repair vision and disorders like glaucoma have presented patients with more options. Optometrists are the primary health care practitioners who advise patients on new technology and therapies to treat their visual system. The functions of optometrists include:

• Diagnosis, examination, treatment, and management of diseases, injuries, and abnormalities affecting the visual system, eyes, and related structures.
• Advise patients on surgical and non-surgical options for meeting their visual needs.
• Detects systemic disorders that affect the eyes, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
• Prescribe drugs or prescriptions for eyeglasses or contact lens
• Carry out minor surgical procedures.
• Provide low vision rehabilitation and vision therapy.
• Assist patients in post-surgery recovery.

Ophthalmologists and dispensing opticians are not to be confused with optometrists. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors specializing in eye surgery and detecting and treating eye diseases.

Dispensing opticians, on the other hand, are technicians who fit eyeglasses and contact lenses based on prescriptions written by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

Optometrists work in hospitals, the military, and retail optical stores. Many optometrists partner with one or more other optometrists or ophthalmologists to create a private or group practice. Some optometrists work in research at a university or for a firm.

What is the role of an optometrist in your healthcare?

Many eye illnesses can result in permanent vision loss if not detected and treated early. For this reason, going for a routine eye exam is an excellent preventive practice. An eye exam includes a range of tests and involves a lot. An eye exam is about much more than testing a person's vision and calculating their eyeglass prescription (refraction). Routine health insurance usually includes:

• Comprehensive eye exams for adults aged 18 and up and seniors aged 65 and up
• Medically necessary/urgent care for sudden vision impairments; red-eye, infection, foreign body removal; chronic eye disease management (Glaucoma, macular degeneration, inflammatory conditions)
• Monitor the patients taking specific systemic drugs like Plaquenil and tamoxifen.
• Medical eye surgery follow-up visits

Identifying the right physicians is crucial to receiving the best patient care. Optometrists are trained specialists who can collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as general practitioners, ophthalmologists, nurses, and pediatricians, to offer the best possible care to patients.

Like other healthcare professionals, optometrists must complete specialized training before treating patients. They earn a bachelor's degree before enrolling in a recognized university's four-year Doctor of Optometry program.

You can consult an optometrist near you if you are suffering from any of the following conditions:

1. Astigmatism usually manifests as blurred vision, headaches, squinting, eyestrain, etc. It results from mismatched cornea or lens curves inside the eye. Astigmatism is a treatable weakness of the eye. It is a common condition that can exist at birth or due to anisometropia - a combination of nearsightedness and farsightedness.
2. Myopia: This eye disorder makes it difficult for a person to focus on distant objects. Commonly known as nearsightedness, it is treated using eyeglasses, contact lenses, corneal refractive therapy, etc.
3. Hyperopia (farsightedness) occurs when nearby objects appear blurry, but objects far away appear clearly visible. This condition is usually present at birth or is inherited.
4. Diplopia (Double vision) is when you see two images of a single object while looking at it. While double vision typically is a temporary concern, it can sometimes be a sign of more serious eye problems. Based on whether you have diplopia in one or both eyes, this condition is of two types - monocular (one eye) and binocular (both eyes). Apart from double vision, symptoms of diplopia include headache, dizziness, nausea, unclear vision, and eye pain.
5. Color blindness or vision deficiency is when you cannot see colors in the traditional way, find it difficult to differentiate between specific colors and shades, and cannot perceive the brightness of colors. Cones (a type of nerve cell in your retina) process lights and images and send signals to your brain about color perception. Color blindness occurs when your cones do not function properly. 
6. Presbyopia occurs when your eyes lose the ability to change focus, hampering your ability to see close-up objects. It usually results from aging, which causes your eye’s natural lens to lose flexibility. Presbyopia is a natural sign of aging and not an illness. It starts to develop in your 40s and worsens until your mid-60s. Its symptoms include eye strain, headache, and needing more light to read.

An optometrist can diagnose and treat cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinal tears, hemorrhage, and tumors. During an examination, they also help detect early indicators of significant medical disorders like diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.

Reasons to visit an optometrist or eye doctor

Besides going for routine checkups, seeing an optometrist or eye doctor, even for the most minor eye problems, can be beneficial in the long run. Here are a few reasons why you should visit an eye doctor or optometrist near you- 

• If you experience a sudden change or loss of vision, it may indicate conditions like cataracts, retinal disease, or age-related macular degeneration. 
• If you suspect an infection in your eyes, visit an eye doctor as soon as possible. Occasionally, eye infections can lead to severe complications if left untreated. Infections can be caused by using long-wear contact lenses, not removing your contact lenses before sleeping, herpes virus, certain types of bacteria or fungi, and not keeping lens cases clean. 
• See an optometrist if you are having difficulty seeing at night. While difficulty seeing at night or in low light settings can be a normal part of aging, it can also indicate underlying eye conditions like cataracts or macular degeneration. 
• Suppose you experience the symptoms of an eye allergy, such as itchiness, redness, burning, and clear, watery discharge from your eyes. Allergens like grass, trees, pet dander, mold, dust mites, and irritants like smoke or perfume may cause eye allergies.  
• If you see floaters (specks, dots, or circles) or flashes (flashing lights or lightning streaks in your field of vision), they may signify retinal or vitreous detachment. 
• If you have double vision, i.e., seeing two overlapping images of a single object or image, an eye doctor can determine whether you have a nerve or brain-related condition. 
• If you have persistent headaches, it may be a sign of digital eye strain, glaucoma, infection, or even issues with binocular vision, including amblyopia or convergence insufficiency.
• If you have a history of eye diseases or associated conditions like diabetes, you should see an eye doctor frequently. Diabetic patients have high blood sugar, which can damage the blood vessels in the eyes. Your provider can guide you in controlling your blood sugar and protecting your eyes.  
• Suppose you need clarification about over-the-counter eye drops, cosmetics, eye serums, or eye products like blue light-blocking glasses. In that case, you can consult with your eye doctor, who will recommend the right kind of product and also answer any questions you may have regarding their use. 
• Your eye doctors will also guide you toward a healthier lifestyle. They can teach you about specific foods, supplements, vitamins, ways to protect your eyes from UV damage, and how to make personalized daily changes to your routine that can help enhance the quality of your vision. 
• If you have dry eyes and are unable to find relief by using over-the-counter remedies, your ophthalmologist can help diagnose the root cause of your dry eyes accurately and suggest appropriate treatment. 
• You should also have an eye doctor if you are pregnant. This is because some pregnant women do have the chance of developing pregnancy-related diabetes, eye conditions, or high blood pressure. An eye doctor can help manage these problems.

How often should you get an eye check-up?

Getting regular eye check-ups helps eye doctors identify vision problems right away. How often you need an eye exam depends on your age:

• Kids: An eye doctor should check your child's eyesight during the first year of life and every 1-2 years thereafter until they are 18.
• Adults between 18 and 65: You should get eye exams every 1-2 years. If you wear glasses, you might require annual eye check-ups.
• Adults older than 55: You should get annual eye check-ups. However, if you have poor vision or eye conditions, check with your doctor if you need more frequent check-ups.

How to find the best optometrist near you in Philadelphia, PA

Knowing and acknowledging your eye symptoms is the first step toward recovery. The next is to find an eye doctor with whom you share a rapport. Zocdoc can help you search for top-rated optometrists in your neighborhood in Philadelphia.

At Zocdoc, we care deeply about finding the right provider to meet a patient's needs. With the help of the Zocdoc platform, you can easily find a high-quality optometrist in Philadelphia with just a few clicks. You can filter optometrists based on their location, availability, and other preferences. As we understand the importance of patients making informed choices regarding their medical providers, Zocdoc features verified information about a provider's education, training, and experience on their profile. 

Zocdoc helps you search for in-network optometrists in your area. Select your insurance carrier and plan from the drop-down menu on the Zocdoc website.  If you have multiple insurance plans (for medical, dental, or vision), you can add all of them to your Zocdoc account. Mention your secondary carrier and plan for your selected provider in your notes during the last step of the booking process. If your provider uses Zocdoc's intake forms, you can add secondary insurance while filling out forms online. For more insurance-related information, you can access Zocdoc's patient health center. You can book an appointment with only one insurance plan at a time. 

The profiles of each eye doctor also feature verified patient reviews and ratings that you can refer to while deciding on a provider. You can, once decided, book an appointment on your phone or any other digital device directly from the platform.  All the providers featured on the Zocdoc platform are verified; these services are safe, secure, and free.

Vision issues in children in Philadelphia, PA

According to the results of a vision screening conducted by the Wills Eye Vision Screen Program among Philadelphia public school children and published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 13.1 percent of 18,974 children were flagged for incorrect refractive errors. 9.4 percent of children were found to have myopia, 2.4 percent were diagnosed with hyperopia, 7.8 percent had astigmatism, and 4.5 percent had anisometropia.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2023, the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan region had one of the highest numbers of optometrists employed in urban regions of the U.S. There were 810 optometrists legally practicing in this region, with a location quotient of 1.05.

Sources

ExploreHealthCareers

National Center for Biotechnology Information

WebMD

Cleveland Clinic[1]

Cleveland Clinic[2]

Cleveland Clinic[3]

Cleveland Clinic[4]

American Academy of Ophthalmology[1]

American Academy of Ophthalmology[2]

American Academy of Ophthalmology[3]

American Academy of Ophthalmology[4]

Optometrists Network

PennMedicine

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.