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What Training does a Optometrist
Require?
Optometryis
a health care professionconcerned
with the health of the eyes
and related structures, as well as vision, visual
systems, and vision information processing
in humans. Optometrists are licensed medical professionals trained to prescribe and fit
lenses to improve vision, and to diagnose and treat various eye
diseases. In the United States and Canada optometrists are
considered Doctors of Optometryand
are held to the same legal standards as any
physician. In
all U.S. states optometrists are licensed to diagnose and treat
diseases of the eye through topical diagnostic and therapeutic
drugsand
oral drugs in 47/50 states.Doctors
of Optometry are also able to perform certain types
of laser surgery in some states.
Doctors of Optometry in the United States are currently
regulated by state boards that determine their scope of
practice, which may vary drastically from state to state. Within
the healthcare system, optometrists function as primary eye care
providers who are especially experienced in fitting contact
lenses and glasses prescriptions.
Optometrists have expanded their practice scope to include:
-Oral medications(such
as antivirals, antibiotics, oral steroids and pain medications
-Topical medications such as prescription eye drops to treat
glaucomaor
red eye for example.
-Injectable medications.
Optometrists may also be trained in some surgical techniques,
including those for foreign body removal, corneal injury, eyelid
& lacrimal disease, removal of "lumps and bumps" around the eyes.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) and the American
Optometric Society (AOS) represent optometrists nationally in
the USA. Prior to admittance into optometry school, optometrists
typically complete four years of undergraduate study,
culminating in a bachelor’s degree. Required undergraduate
coursework for pre-optometry students covers a variety of
health, science and mathematics courses. These courses include:
four semesters of
chemistry to include organic and biochemistry, two semesters of
physics and biology, as well as one semester of calculus,
statistics, physiology, anatomy, microbiology, and psychology.
Additional requirements are imposed by specific institutions.
Once completing these courses, admission to an optometry
doctorate program requires that candidates score well on the
O.A.T.,
Optometry Admission Tests. There are currently 20 optometry schools in the US, and admission into
these schools is highly competitive.
Optometrists are required to complete a four-year postgraduate
degree program to earn their Doctor of Optometry (O.D. - Oculus
Doctor) titles. The four-year program includes classroom and
clinical training in geometric, physical, physiological and
ophthalmic optics, ocular anatomy, ocular disease, ocular
pharmacology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of the vision
system, binocular vision, color, form, space, movement and
vision perception, design and modification of the visual
environment, and vision performance and vision screening. In
addition, an optometric education also includes a thorough study
of human anatomy, systemic diseases, general pharmacology,
general pathology, microbiology, sensory and perceptual
psychology, biochemistry, statistics and epidemiology. There are
three new colleges of optometry (Midwestern University Arizona
College of Optometry, University of the Incarnate Word School of
Optometry, Western University of Health Sciences College of
Optometry) that have received the pre-accreditation status of
preliminary approval from the Accreditation Council on
Optometric Education (ACOE). Programs with "Preliminary
Approval" have shown that they are developing within the ACOE's
standards. The programs have approval to begin recruiting and
admitting students, and to begin offering the program.
Upon completion of an accredited program in optometry, graduates
hold the Doctor of Optometry degree. Optometrists must then pass
a national examination administered by the National Board of
Examiners in Optometry (NBEO).The three-part exam includes basic science,
clinical science and patient care. Some optometrists go on to
complete one to two year residencies with training in a specific
sub-specialty such as
pediatric eye care,
geriatric eye care, specialty contact lens, ocular disease or
neuro-optometry. All optometrists are required to fulfill
continuing education requirements to stay current regarding the
latest standards of care. Wikipedia.org
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