Who are optometrists, and when should you see them?
Optometrists are healthcare providers who help prevent, diagnose, and treat issues and diseases affecting the eyes. They specialize in providing primary vision care to patients and prescribe medications to control ocular problems. Optometrists are not surgeons and do not perform any eye surgeries.
Some common reasons to see an optometrist near you are:
- Pain in one or both eyes
- Blurred or double vision
- Light flashes
- Irritation in the eyes
- Redness
- Seeing halos around lights
- Seeing specks in front of the eyes
- Changing prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses
- To get a comprehensive eye exam
Education and training of optometrists
Most optometry schools in the U.S. are postgraduate programs, meaning one must have a bachelor’s degree before attending. However, some schools don’t require you to have a degree, but you must have passed prerequisite college classes in science and math. Some of the required tests for admission into optometry school may include the Optometry Admission Test (OAT), Dental Admission Test (DAT), Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), or other standardized exams specified by the institution.
Once accepted into an optometry school, you will complete a four-year Doctor of Optometry program course. During the first year, the students will learn foundational information about optometry theory, anatomy, pharmacology, and physiology. It also involves lab training, during which one will learn the methods and theories of optometry. Hence, they will learn about examining patients on the job.
After that, the second year will involve learning advanced optometry methods and theories through various lab work and class styles. Then, the third year involves studying pediatric and geriatric optometry, public health, research and statistical methods, and optometry practice and management. Some semesters will cover additional educational topics to gain deeper insights into the field.
Finally, the fourth year will include three 16-week rotations, gaining experience with various types of patient care. It will also encourage students to explore specialty opportunities at Veteran Affairs (VA) sites, private practices, community health centers, and military bases. After completing the Doctor of Optometry program, you must pass all four parts of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry assessment. It is a national requirement, and some states may require you to complete additional exams to get a license before you can legally practice.
After obtaining your license, you can also complete a fellowship to specialize in specific eye conditions or patient populations. Some standard specialties include:
- General optometry
- Sports vision optometry
- Eye disease
- Low vision rehabilitation
- Pediatric optometry
- Geriatric optometry
- Family practice optometry
- Cornea and contact lenses
- Binocular vision and vision therapy
- Brain injury vision rehabilitation
- Community health
Common conditions that optometrists treat
Optometrists diagnose and treat a variety of refraction problems and ocular diseases. They use medications to treat visual issues. When a condition mandates surgery, they refer the patients to ophthalmologists, as optometrists are not allowed to perform eye surgeries. Common refractive conditions optometrists manage are:
- Myopia: Also known as nearsightedness, patients with this condition cannot see closer objects clearly but have no difficulty seeing distant objects.
- Hyperopia: Also known as farsightedness, this condition is the opposite of myopia, where the patients find it hard to see things close by.
- Astigmatism: This is the most common reason for blurred vision among patients. In astigmatism, either the cornea or lens has excessive curvature, causing blurred vision due to uneven light refraction.
- Diplopia: Diplopia is a temporary condition where patients see double images of objects. Optical problems can cause diplopia or point to other systemic health conditions. Medical issues such as diabetes, myasthenia gravis, Grave's disease, vertigo, and keratoconus lead to diplopia. Double vision can happen in one eye (monocular) or both eyes (binocular). It can affect the patient's vertical (top to bottom) vision or horizontal (left to right) vision.
- Presbyopia: This is a common ocular condition that affects older people and begins showing around the 40s and worsens till the late 60s. Patients with presbyopia have difficulty changing the eye's focus when viewing objects nearby.
- Color blindness: Patients with color blindness have impaired color vision. These patients have defective or missing photoreceptor cells (or cones) in the eyes, the cells responsible for seeing and differentiating colors.
Optometrists also train in handling ocular diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
- Glaucoma: Glaucoma is a group of disorders where the optic nerve ruptures, leading to vision loss. The most common reason for optic nerve damage is an increase in ocular pressure due to fluid buildup in the front portion of the eyes.
- Cataract: This is a color condition where the proteins within the eyes break down and remain within the eyes, fogging and disrupting vision.
- Macular degeneration: Individuals experiencing macular degeneration encounter difficulties in the central part of the retina, called the macula, which is responsible for central vision. This problem is generally seen among people over 50 and affects the patient's ability to see objects right before them.
Standard vision tests that optometrists perform
Optometrists perform various tests to check the functioning and vision in your eyes. Some of the standard tests that most optometrists perform are:
- Cover test: With this test, the optometrists check the coordination between the eyes. The patient must focus on something far away as the optometrist periodically covers and uncovers alternate eyes.
- Visual field test: This test measures the side vision of the patient and the ocular muscles. Patients move only their eyes and follow an object as it moves from one side to the other.
- Visual acuity test: This test measures the refractive ability of the eyes. You must read the letters on the Snellen chart with one eye covered at a time. In case of vision issues, the optometrists ask the patient to read through a phoropter with different lenses. It aids the care provider in finding the perfect corrective lens for the patient.
- Pupil reaction test: Pupils are the black center part of the eyes. Depending on the light in the surroundings, pupils change their size. The optometrists observe the pupil's reaction to light in this test.
- Color vision test: This test checks if the patient can decipher the primary colors and helps diagnose color blindness. Patients have to locate numbers hidden among pictures containing colored dots.
- Slit lamp exam: A slit lamp is a special microscope that magnifies all the parts of the eyes so that optometrists can get a closer and more detailed look. During this test, the optometrist dilates the eyes using eye drops and then examines the iris, cornea, lens, and rear portion of the eyes.
- Ophthalmoscopy/fundoscopy: This test examines all parts of the eye and involves dilating the eyes with eye drops. But this test uses a hand-held instrument that shines a light and allows the optometrists to check in detail.
- Corneal topography: While patients look at an object, a computer captures all the measurements of their cornea and creates a corneal map. This test helps detect the cornea's curvature and is used to diagnose astigmatism. It is also performed before choosing contact lenses, corneal transplants, and other eye surgeries.
- Tonometry: Optometrists use this test to look for signs of glaucoma in patients. After numbing the eyes using eye drops, the optometrists blow a small puff of air using a tonometer. Then, they measure the fluid pressure in the eyes.
Beneficial eye exercises
Eye exercises enhance the strength of your eye muscles, promote better focus, ease eye movements, and stimulate the vision center in your brain. Engaging in these exercises not only contributes to muscle control but also aids in achieving optimal vision. The choice of exercises within your routine depends on factors such as age and the specific eye condition. It is advisable to tailor your exercise plan based on your individual needs and consult with an optometrist near you for the best results.
Here's a breakdown of some effective eye exercises:
- 20-20-20 rule: Following every 20 minutes of focused work, take a 20-second break to shift your gaze to an object approximately 20 feet away. This practice helps alleviate eye strain and maintain visual comfort.
- Blinking break: Prolonged screen time, as with computers or TVs, often leads to reduced blinking, resulting in dry eyes and headaches. Taking breaks in between and regular blinking helps refresh your eyes and prevent discomfort.
- Palm relaxation: Shield your closed eyes with cupped palms until afterimages fade away, experiencing a moment of complete darkness for approximately 30 seconds. Ensure gentle cupping without applying pressure, offering a quick relaxation technique.
- Figure eight: Visualize a large number 8 positioned about 10 feet in front of you. Trace this figure slowly with your eyes in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, enhancing eye coordination and flexibility.
- Eye rolling: Practice horizontal and vertical eye movements by looking right and left, followed by upward and downward glances. This exercise aids in promoting a wide range of eye movements.
- Near and far: This exercise is particularly beneficial for individuals wearing glasses. Remove your glasses and hold your thumbs at varying distances, focusing on each thumb for a few seconds. Shift your gaze to objects across the room and further away, gradually adjusting your eyes to different lengths.
Locating the best optometrist near you in Round Rock, Texas
Some things you need to check while looking for an optometrist are the qualifications, license, work experience, and the types of tests they provide. Zocdoc can give all these details and more. With Zocdoc, you can book an in-person or online appointment with the best optometrist practicing near you. You can choose to set up the meeting days before, 24 hours prior, and even on the same day, depending on the availability of the care provider.
Zocdoc even allows you to customize your search based on several variables, including the location of the optometrist's office (near your home or office), your symptoms or condition, and your preferred date and time for an appointment. You can even find optometrists near you who will accept your medical insurance by choosing your current insurance policy and plan from the drop-down menu on Zocdoc. Alternatively, you can update your Zocdoc account's insurance information or upload a picture of your health plan card on the Zocdoc app. It will help you find providers within your insurance network right away. Feel free to browse Zocdoc's patient help center for more insurance-related FAQs.
Zocdoc offers a well-researched profile of every optometrist listed on the website to give you an unbiased view. The profile details the healthcare professional's qualifications, total work experience, and any unique expertise, certifications, accreditations, and any awards received in the past. The profile also has information on the working hours of the optometrist, the kind of patients they generally see (age group and with any particular vision problem), gender, language fluency, and cultural background. Detailed and pre-verified patient reviews and ratings are also part of the profile, so you can choose the best optometrist near you.
All bookings on Zocdoc are fast, free, and secure!
Optometry statistics in Texas
As of May 2021, the "Occupational Employment and Wages" report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that there were 2,980 legally practicing optometrists in the state of Texas. Even though the state had one of the highest numbers of optometrists employed, the location quotient (concentration of employment compared to the entire nation) was 0.89, which was still low compared to the national average.
According to the American Foundation for the Blind, 695,054 people in Texas reported having problems with their sight in 2019. More women (370,011) had vision issues than men (325,043) in the state. Among the various age groups in the state, people between the ages of 35 and 64 years (275,585) had the highest prevalence rate of optical difficulties, and the lowest numbers were seen among kids under five years (10,477).
Sources
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Cleveland Clinic[2]
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
American Optometric Association
The College of Optometrists[1]
The College of Optometrists[2]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
American Foundation for the Blind
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
