optometrists are the primary healthcare practitioners of the eye and visual system who provide comprehensive eye and vision care, which includes refraction and dispensing, detection/diagnosis and management of disease in the eye, and the rehabilitation of conditions of the visual system.
Optometrists are visioncare providers. They are graduates with university degree.
They perform eye examination to diagnose vision problems, such as short-sightedness, long-sightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. They test customers depth and colour perception. They examine customers ability to focus and coordinate their eyes.
They may prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses, or they may provide other treatments such as vision therapy or low vision rehabilitation.
Optometrists are qualified to screen and diagnosed eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, infections and eye conditions affected by diabetes and high blood pressure. They refer to other health practitioners as needed.
They encourage preventative measures by promoting nutrition and education to promote eye health, and reduce the risk of eye disease.
Optometry is a healthcare profession which involves examining the eyes and applicable visual systems for defects or abnormalities as well as the medical diagnosis and management of eye disease. Traditionally, the field of optometry began with the primary focus of correcting refractive error through the use of spectacles. Modern day optometry, however, has evolved through time so that the educational curriculum additionally includes intensive medical training in the diagnosis and management of ocular disease in countries where the profession is established and regulated. Thus, disorders or diseases detected outside the treatment scope of optometry are referred out to relevant medical professionals for proper care, more commonly to ophthalmologists who are medical doctors that specialize in advanced medical and surgical care of the eye. Optometrists typically work closely together with other eye care professionals such as ophthalmologists and opticians to deliver quality and efficient eyecare to the general public.