Optometrists are health care physicians that are trained specially for the looking after and treatment of the human eyes. They are given training to examine any defects of vision, any injury that may have been caused or any other abnormality. They can also detect normal bodily defects such as high blood pressure and diabetes by examining the eye that may further grow into severe and chronic diseases such as stroke and heart diseases. The first symptoms of many bodily abnormalities can be seen in the eyes and therefore it becomes extremely essential that one gets a regular eye checkup by a qualified professional. An optometrist can prescribe medications and spectacles or lenses, perform vision therapy and even some surgical operations which are in regard to the eye.
Functions performed by an optometrist:
optometrist
Eyes are one of the main sense organs of a human and more than ninety percent of all diseases related to the eye can be cured given that it is subject to proper attention. An optometrist performs various functions that are essential to avoid any kind of strain or abnormality in the eye. These functions include:
• Perform eye exams and examine results of such exams
• Detect the problems of nearsightedness or farsightedness and diseases of the eye such as glaucoma
• Recommend glasses, lens or any required medications
• Perform treatments such as those of vision rehabilitation and sight therapy
• Perform surgeries relating to eye and provide pre-surgery as well as post-surgery care to such patients
• Evaluate diseases such as high blood pressure or other bodily malfunctions that may be detected by examination of the eyes
Optometrist
Some of the most common eye problems include myopia, cataracts, color blindness, hyperopia, presbyopia, glaucoma, astigmatism and macular degeneration among others and some of these problems can be easily treated in a few hours while some may require the use of intensive treatment and proper care or else they may lead to loss in vision or other diseases which may be the cause of harm to other parts of the body. All of these diseases can be looked upon and detected by an optometrist who will be qualified enough to provide the necessary care.
There are other types of eye doctors too, such as ophthalmologists and opticians, who perform functions similar to those of an optometrist, but they should not be confused with each other. There are differences in the course and duration of their study and also in the functions they perform. Basic functions like conducting of vision tests and prescribing of glasses can also be performed by an optician but they will not be able to detect the presence of any other disease or abnormality in the body just by examining the eye which is a function that an optometrist can perform.
An ophthalmologist, on the other hand, can perform all the functions that an optometrist can perform but they are more trained in the execution of surgeries related to the eye which may be used in the treatment of crossed eyes, cataracts etc. They can also undertake plastic surgeries of the eye which may be used to correct drooping eyes and smooth the eyelids.
In conclusion, the eyes are an absolutely essential and sensitive organ of the human body and should be properly cared for to ensure that they are in perfect health. Some basic measures that can be undertaken to do so is to regularly get your eyes checked by a qualified professional, know your family’s eye history, take protective measures such as sunglasses and hats or an umbrella in the sun to protect the eyes from UV rays, eat healthy food and get proper exercise to ensure that your entire body remains in perfect health.
