Optometry – Optometrist Hurstville
What is Optometry?
Optometry is a specialist health care profession that looks for flaws or abnormalities in the eyes and associated components. Optometrists are medical specialists who offer complete primary eye care.
An optometrist is a medical specialist who specialises in primary vision care. They are not medical physicians, but they are licensed to practice optometry, which includes doing eye examinations, writing contact lens and glasses prescriptions, detecting abnormalities in the eye, and treating specific eye disorders.
What services does an optometrist provide?
Clinically, optometrists strive to help patients with vision problems. First, patients have general eye exams in which the optometrist obtains a medical history of the patient’s eye issues. The eyes are then evaluated for refractive problems, and a visual acuity test is performed to assess vision. If necessary, glasses or contact lenses with the estimated refractive status of the eyes are given to achieve the adequate vision.
Optometrists also do the following tasks in addition to visual testing:
- Detection of eye disease
- Drug prescriptions for diseases
- Independent prescription
- Contact lens professionals
Optometrists can have a wide range of responsibilities inside hospitals too such as:
- Outpatient primary eye care: An optometrist generally analyses the patient’s visual acuity, prescribes corrective lenses, and is a specialist in managing equipment required to inspect the patient’s eyes.
- Optometrists in low vision care: Optometrists commonly treat patients with permanent visual loss and prescribe common vision care medicines to help them recover. They also teach the patient how to do regular visual workouts to enhance their eyesight.
- Binocular vision care optometrists: Optometrists customise vision treatment for patients suffering from binocular abnormalities; this is necessary for students and athletes working in this sector.
- Counselling and patient review: Optometrists educate cataract patients through pre- or post-surgical procedures and patients regarding the proper use of contact lenses. The patient’s previous medical records are checked to determine their visual state.Research and education: Optometrists participate in research on visual problems caused by neurological abnormalities. Their job includes providing proof of their findings on individuals suffering from binocular vision, amblyopia, and other visual impairments. Experienced optometrists mentor and educate young professionals in the industry.
Optometry in Australia
To work as an Optometrist, you must first finish an optometry degree that the Optometry Council has approved in Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ).
Completing an appropriate degree, such as a Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry, is required. This dual degree typically requires 3.5-5 years of full-time study. The University Clinical Aptitude Test and Year 12 scores are used to determine admission (UCAT).
Alternatively, if you already have an undergraduate degree, you might pursue a Doctor of Optometry. This program typically requires four years of full-time study. Prior academic achievement and performance on the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test are used to determine admission (GAMSAT).
To practice as an optometrist, you must first register with the Optometry Board of Australia.
Optician, Ophthalmologist, and Optometrist
An ophthalmologist is a specialist in eye care. To become one, you must first complete medical school and an ophthalmology residency. They have finished college and at least four or five years of extra medical study.
Ophthalmologists may treat eye illnesses, administer medicine, and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses to address vision difficulties, much like optometrists. Furthermore, ophthalmologists are medical doctors who can do surgery. Unlike optometrists and opticians, Ophthalmologists are physicians of medicine (MD) or doctors of osteopathy (DO) with special training and expertise in diagnosing and treating eye and vision issues. Ophthalmologists are trained to offer complete eye care, which includes therapeutic and surgical procedures.
Opticians are eye care experts but are not “eye physicians” who cannot do eye examinations. They are skilled technicians who fix eyeglass lenses, frames, and contacs to remedy vision disorders. Opticians cannot diagnose, treat, or issue prescriptions for eye illnesses. Many have one or two years of training and are licensed. However, licenses are not required in all states.
When should you consult an optometrist?
Consult an optometrist if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Wear corrective lenses or believe you need glasses or contacts?
- Have a chronic condition, such as diabetes, which increases your risk of eye disease
- Have a history of vision loss or eye illness in your family?
- Take eye-related prescription medicines.