What type of certification should I look for in an optometrist?
If you are considering an optometrist for your eye health care, you should know what kind of certification they are required to have.
To begin with, you should know that optometry is the diagnosis and treatment of disease, optical deficiencies, visual and muscular irregularities related to the eyes, and surrounding tissue.
An optometrist is an independent primary health care provider. This eye doctor can examine, diagnose and manage diseases and disorders of the visual system.
Your optometrists is trained and certified to do the following:
- Prescribe, provide, adjust and fit corrective lenses and low-vision rehabilitative devices.
- Prescribe prism lenses, eye exercises and other items for correcting eye/muscle imbalances.
- An optometrist with additional state certifications can prescribe and administer drugs for treatment of eye conditions.
During routine eye examinations an optometrist can:
- Take the patient's medical history.
- Test eye/muscle coordination.
- Test for eye related neurological defects.
- Test for vision correction.
- Make an evaluation of the inside of the eye.
An optometrist must have completed a four year postgraduate program of classroom and also clinical training to be eligible for the doctor of optometry degree. Their undergraduate degree is in some field of science, such as physics, biology or chemistry.
Optometry programs can also include advanced studies in optics, the visual system, lens design, application and fitting.
Optometric education includes human anatomy, pharmacology, general pathology, sensor and perceptual psychology, biochem statistics and epidemiology.
An optometrist must have passed a three-part examination, which includes a practical, "hands on" exam, to be licensed by the state board.
You can verify your optometrist's certification. They must display their registration certificate listing their name, address and the dates of the registration period. To practice in the field of optometry, they must re-register periodically. Some display their license, diploma and membership certificates. Their license may also be viewed online.
You can contact professional associations for access to a list of optometrists practicing in your area, or you can look in the yellow pages. You can check with the state board to see whether an optometrist is listed there. And you can get recommendations from your friends and family.
Once you have chosen your eye doctor and gone in for an examination, ask questions. When you get your diagnosis, ask about available treatments, find out how much they cost and what follow up is involved.
Schools of optometry now offer certificate programs that allow a practicing optometrist to expand his/her field of knowledge and keep their credentials current. The growing trend in optometry is continuing education to stay current. Certification is regarded as a continuing education that keeps the eye doctor up to date with current trends and practices.
An optometrist can perform vision acuity tests to evaluate your vision, confrontational vision field tests to test your range of sight, pupillary tests to test your reaction to light, and a retinoscopy to examine your inner eye for signs of disease.