When you get sick, you will normally visit a General Practitioner (GP). However, if the GP feels that it exceeds their scope of practice/they don’t know enough about the area, they will refer you to what’s known as a “specialist” which can range between an endocrinologist, cardiologist, neurologist, ophthalmologist and many other specialties. The same applies for an optometrist.
But firstly, what is an optometrist? An optometrist is someone who practices Optometry. Optometry is a healthcare profession that specialises in eyes and related structures, as well as vision, visual systems and vision information processing in humans. In Australia, we train for roughly 5 years depending on the University, and also have the ability to prescribe certain ocular medication.
Now getting your eyes tested isn’t just about selling you a pair of glasses or prescribing lenses for your eyesight like some other optometrists may lead you to believe.
Did you know, in optometry alone there are many sub-specialties. Take for example, some optometrists may prefer and see more children, while others in ocular diseases, contact lenses and many more. Many of the optometrists who have special interests in these fields will generally have done more education in these areas to understand them better. Not only this, but because they have these interests in these areas, they will generally see more of it making their exposure to it much better.
Now that’s not to say one optometrist is better than the other at their job. But similar to any task, if you do something every day you’ll get much more experience at it then someone who does something once a week.
For more information on eye health and eye conditions or to find your local Eyecare Plus optometrist visit: www.eyecarevision.com.au
About optometrists:
Optometrists are experts in vision care who diagnose, manage and treat a wide range of vision problems, eye diseases and ocular conditions. By prescribing spectacles, contact lenses, vision aids and other treatments, optometrists help their patients maximise and retain good vision for life.