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Optometric physicians provide the full range of primary eye health care services, which include virtually all eye care a person will ordinarily require.
Optometric Physicians and Their Role in the Health Care Team
Many people consider the ability to see their most important sense. Optometric physicians
(also known as optometrists) have dedicated their professional lives to preserving and
enhancing the vision and eye health of the public. Optometric physicians are the most
accessible of all eye care providers, serving Washington State residents in all 39 counties.
Optometric Physicians:
Optometric physicians are the primary health care professionals for the eye, providing
comprehensive eye care to millions of Americans nationwide. It is estimated that more than 70%
of primary eye examinations are conducted by optometric physicians. Optometric physicians are
held to the highest level of professional and legal standards when providing care for their
patients. The scope of practice for optometric physicians is established and regulated by state
law.
Scope of Practice:
Examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases, injuries and disorders of the visual
system, the eye and associated structures;
Diagnose related systemic conditions affecting the eye such as diabetes and hypertension;
Prescribe glasses and contact lenses, medications, low vision rehabilitation and vision
therapy, and perform some in-office procedures;
Prescribe oral and topical prescription medications for eye-related conditions;
Counsel and serve as a resource of information to their patients regarding surgical and
non-surgical options that meet the visual needs of their occupations, avocations and
lifestyles;
Provide pre-op and post-op care and consultation for eye surgery patients;
Are credentialed in public, private and veterans administration hospitals;
Offer specialty services such as hard-to-fit contact lenses, low vision care, sports vision,
pediatric care, older adult eye care, vision therapy, traumatic brain injury therapy and
occupational vision care (including eye care for computer users);
Practice in many different settings: private practice clinics (including partnerships with
MDs), refractive surgery centers, health maintenance organizations, veteran’s
administration hospitals, other hospitals, universities and corporate locations.
Optometric physicians diagnose and treat conditions including: glaucoma, cataracts and retinal
disorders, lid disorders, infections such as conjunctivitis, ocular complications from systemic
disease such as hypertension and diabetes and vision conditions such as nearsightedness,
farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia.
Optometric physicians work with other health care providers as part of the team to provide
overall health care management for patients. Optometric physicians are often the first to detect
signs of systemic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure during a comprehensive eye
examination. Diabetes is an example of how optometric physicians work in partnership with
primary care providers in managing and treating the overall health of patients. Proper diagnosis
and continued monitoring by an optometric physician, along with coordinated efforts of the
patient’s primary care provider, can reduce the incidence of diabetes-related eye complications
and blindness. The cost to our health care system could be greatly reduced if all people living
with diabetes were to receive regular examinations and treatment. Comparable savings benefits
can be realized from vision and eye health examinations of patients suffering from high blood
pressure and other systemic diseases.
Education and Training:
Optometric physicians complete an undergraduate education in a college or university and four
years of education at a college of optometry, leading to the Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree.
Students average 1,900 supervised direct-care clinical hours by the time of graduation. The
average student has provided diagnostic treatment and services for an average of 2,500 patients
by graduation. Some O.D.s also complete a residency and fellowship in a specific area of
practice giving them up to ten years of education. An optometric physician must complete oral,
written and practical examinations in order to obtain a state license. The state requires every
optometric physician to pursue continuing education as a requirement for license renewal.
About the Optometric Physicians of Washington (OPW):
OPW is the professional association that represents the profession of optometry in Washington
State. OPW has over 800 members located throughout the state and is the state affiliate of the
American Optometric Association (AOA), which comprises over 36,000 members throughout
the United States. The Mission Statement of the OPW is “to enhance the vision care and eye
health of the public and to promote the continued development of the profession of optometry.”
For more information about OPW and the profession of optometry, please feel free to visit our
Web site: www.eyes.org.
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