Who is an optometrist?
An optometrist is an eye professional who specializes in vision care. They are not certified doctors but are licensed to practice optometry, which includes performing eye exams, writing prescriptions for contact lenses and eyeglasses, detecting issues in the eye, and treating certain eye diseases. An optometrist specializes in primary eye care, including the following services:
- Offering vision screenings and eye exams
- Recommending corrective eyewear
- Detecting and monitoring eye conditions associated with other diseases, such as diabetes
- Treating common vision problems such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration
- Providing vision therapy and low-vision aids
Reasons to visit an optometrist
Routine eye exams aid in the early detection of eye diseases and preserve your vision. Consult an optometrist if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Wear corrective lenses or think you require glasses or contacts
- Have a chronic disease, such as diabetes, which increases your risk of eye disease
- Have a history of eye disorder or vision loss in the family
- Take eye-related prescription medications
Make an appointment as soon as possible if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Eye pain
- Circles that look like halos around lights
- Blurred vision or double vision
- Red, irritated eyes
- Flashes of light
- Floaters—specks that float before your eyes
An optometrist near you can recommend you visit an ophthalmologist—a healthcare provider specializing in eye care—for additional treatment or eye surgery.
Differences between optometrists, ophthalmologists, and opticians
Optometrists and ophthalmologists are both eye doctors. Optometrists are not qualified or licensed to perform eye surgery. If your optometrist finds an eye problem requiring surgery, they may refer you to an ophthalmologist.
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (MDs) or osteopaths (DO) who have completed medical school. They are qualified to diagnose and treat any condition affecting your eyes and vision, including performing eye surgery.
Opticians work collaboratively with ophthalmologists and optometrists. They typically hold a two-year technical diploma or certification. They can measure you for glasses, contacts, or other vision correction devices. They can also replace or adjust your glasses, lenses, or frames.
What to expect at the optometrist's office?
An optometrist will ask a few questions about your medical history, family history, and any vision problems you are experiencing. They will examine your vision to make sure your eyes are working correctly. Some of the tests they conduct include:
- Cover examination: It helps determine how well your eyes work. Your optometrist will cover and uncover each eye to observe how your eyes move.
- Eye muscle movement examination: This test determines eye alignment by having you follow a moving target, such as a pen or a finger, in different directions.
- Pupil reactions: The pupils, or your eye's black center, constantly adjust to changing light levels. Your optometrist will examine the whites of your eyes, the position of your eyelids, and how your pupils adjust.
- Visual acuity/refraction examination: It entails covering one eye and reading various lines on an eye chart, beginning with the biggest letters at the top and moving to the smallest letters at the bottom. It will determine if you require corrective lenses. If so, you will undergo a refraction test, which enables your optometrist to adjust your prescription by switching between various lenses back and forth.
- Slit lamp examination: It involves using a device that illuminates and enlarges the front of your eye, revealing your cornea, lens, iris, and the back of your eyes.
- Retinal examination (ophthalmoscopy): An ophthalmoscope is a device that allows you to see the back of your eyes, including the retina, blood vessels, optic nerve, and fluid. An optometrist will also examine your eye fluid pressure for signs of glaucoma, measure the thickness of your corneas, and assess your peripheral vision.
What questions should you ask an optometrist near you?
When visiting an optometrist near you for the first time, here are some questions you should consider asking them.
- How frequently should I get an eye exam?
- What kind of corrective lenses will I require?
- Which tests will I need?
- Will I require eye or vision medication?
- Is vision correction surgery right for me?
What nutrients can help optimize eye health?
The vital nutrients that help keep your eyes healthy include the following:
- Omega 3 fatty acids: These fatty acids are crucial for proper retina function and vision development. They improve tear production, reduce inflammation, and reinforce the oily outer layer of the eyes. Omega 3 fatty acids are also essential for the optimal development of eye vision among infants and children. Fishes like salmon and tuna are the richest source of omega-3 fatty acids.
- Vitamin A: Vitamin A is vital to maintain the photoreceptors or light-sensing cells present in the eye. Lack of vitamin A can cause dry eyes, night blindness, and other severe conditions. Severe vitamin A deficiency is the most significant cause of blindness worldwide. Foods like dairy products, egg yolks, and liver are rich sources of vitamin A.
- Lutein and zeaxanthin: Lutein and zeaxanthin can decrease the chances of chronic eye diseases. Higher quantities of lutein and zeaxanthin in the body significantly reduce the chances of developing new cataracts. Green leafy vegetables contain higher amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin and must be consumed daily for optimal eye health. Broccoli, peas, corn, tangerines, and persimmons are other rich sources of lutein and zeaxanthin.
- Zinc: The eyes need vitamin A to produce a vital protective pigment called melanin. Zinc is the crucial nutrient that brings vitamin A from the liver to the retina. Zinc deficiency can cause impaired vision conditions like cloudy cataracts and night blindness. Include red meat, shellfish, seeds, nuts, and oysters in the diet, as they are rich sources of zinc.
- Vitamin E: Vitamin E is a crucial nutrient that protects the cells from free radicals or unstable molecules that break down healthy tissues in the eye area. Foods such as wheat germ, nuts, and sweet potatoes contain high levels of vitamin E and are beneficial in your daily diet.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C can reduce the risk of visual acuity loss and macular degeneration when consumed with other essential nutrients. It also lowers the risk of cataracts. Foods like strawberries, grapefruit, tomatoes, papaya, and green pepper are rich in vitamin C. They must be included in the diet to keep your eyes healthy.\
What is a pediatric optometrist?
A pediatric optometrist is an eye doctor (Doctor of Optometry or OD) who specializes in caring for children’s eye health. They are trained to perform eye exams and tests specifically designed for kids and to identify and treat eye conditions unique to children.
Just like general optometrists, pediatric optometrists prescribe contact lenses and glasses, conduct comprehensive eye exams, and diagnose and treat various vision and eye problems. However, they have extra training and experience working with children.
To become a pediatric optometrist, one must first earn a four-year undergraduate degree and four years of optometry school to become a Doctor of Optometry. Most also complete an additional year of residency focused on pediatric optometry.
It’s important to know that while optometrists hold the title of Doctor of Optometry, they are not medical doctors and cannot perform surgeries.
A child is typically referred to a pediatric optometrist if their pediatrician or a general optometrist determines they need specialized care. This could be due to eye teaming problems or other conditions that glasses or contacts alone cannot correct.
Pediatric optometrists are often the first professionals to assess and address concerns about child vision development. They commonly treat conditions such as:
- Refractive errors: Nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism
- Amblyopia (lazy eye)
- Strabismus (misaligned or crossed eyes)
- Convergence insufficiency
- Eye health issues: Such as infections, inflammation, discharge, or injuries
- Color blindness
Suppose a pediatric optometrist identifies a condition that requires specialized treatment beyond their scope. In that case, they will refer your child to the appropriate specialist, such as a neuro-ophthalmologist or retina specialist, to ensure the child receives the necessary care.
How to find the best optometrist near you in Saint Charles?
An optometrist near you can treat various eye or vision problems. If you require more advanced care or surgery, your optometrist may refer you to a surgeon or an ophthalmologist.
If you need to book an appointment with an optometrist in Saint Charles, Missouri, visit the Zocdoc website. The platform lists thousands of optometrists near you in its database and helps you find the one who best suits your needs.
Start by creating an account on Zocdoc. Then, using the search bar, enter which healthcare specialist you want to see, any clinical procedure you need to avail of, or any symptoms you have. Our platform will provide a list of top-rated optometrists in your locality. You can also find in-network doctors to save a few bucks on services you avail of or any procedures you undergo.
Zocdoc also allows you to narrow your search with advanced search filters, such as location, date, time of appointment, insurance, doctor's gender, hospital affiliation, languages they speak, whether they treat children or only adults, etc. You can add medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your Zocdoc account.
However, you can only search for and book appointments using one insurance plan at a time. If you have more than one plan, you can mention your secondary insurance carrier and plan in the notes for the provider when completing your booking. If your provider uses Zocdoc’s Intake forms, you can include your secondary insurance while filling out the forms online. For more insurance information, check out Zocdoc's patient help center.
You can also read verified patient reviews and individual profiles of optometrists near you to learn more about them. The practitioner's profile contains information about their specialization, duration of training, certificates, earned licensures, affiliations, etc.
You can either book an in-person visit or an online appointment facilitated via video call. Moreover, all bookings on Zocdoc are simple, secure, and free!
Vision statistics in the U.S.
According to the data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 12 million people aged 40+ suffer from vision impairment. These figures include 1 million who are blind, 3 million who have vision impairment after correction, and 8 million who have impaired vision due to uncorrected refractive error.
According to the CDC, approximately 6.8% of children under 18 suffer from eye and vision conditions. Almost 3% of children under 18 are visually impaired or blind. Another CDC report on data collected between 2012 and 2016 suggests that in Missouri, over 149,000 individuals report being completely blind or having severely impaired vision, even with glasses. Moreover, the data highlighted that people with severe vision problems are more likely to also develop other conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and mobility issues. In Missouri, vision impairment is slightly higher in people with less than high school qualifications (7%) than those with qualifications of high school and above (3%).
Sources
Cleveland Clinic
WebMD
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
American Optometric Association
Healthline
All About Vision
