Optometrists, also known as doctors of optometry, or ODs, are the main providers of vision care. They examine people’s eyes to diagnose vision problems, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, and they test patients’ depth and color perception and ability to focus and coordinate the eyes. Optometrists may prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses, or they may prescribe or provide other treatments, such as vision therapy or low-vision rehabilitation.

Optometrists also test for glaucoma and other eye diseases and diagnose conditions caused by systemic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, referring patients to other health practitioners as needed. They administer drugs to patients to aid in the diagnosis of vision problems and to treat eye diseases. Optometrists often provide preoperative and postoperative care to cataract patients, as well as to patients who have had laser vision correction or other eye surgery.

When shopping around for an optometrist, is it better to go to a solo practitioner or a national chain (i.e. Pearle Vision, LensCrafters)? You’ll get cheaper glasses at a chain (there are regional chains which are a bit less McDonaldsy than LensCrafters, but with similar prices and deals). If you’ve got an unusual prescription or other eye issues, you’d probably be better off with a solo practitioner.

At a chain store in California they typically contract with optomitrists and enroll you in a mini HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) in order to enable you to get cheap/free eye exams. Solo practitioners usually cannot match that.

Here are some ways to go about finding an optometrist who meets your needs, according to the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH):

• Find out if your insurance company or health plan has a list of optometrists who are covered under your plan.
• Ask your friends, family, coworkers or neighbors if they can recommend experienced optometrists.
• Ask other health professionals, such as a family doctor or primary care physician, nurses, pharmacists or dentists, if they can refer you to optometrists they like.
• Call the optometry department at a local hospital or university medical center.
• Contact a state or county association of optometrists to see if they have lists of eye doctors with specific information on specialty and experience.
• The American Optometric Association (AOA) offers a service called “Dr. Locator” to help the general public find optometrists within a specific region. Its Web site is: http://www.aoa.org
• Most large libraries have the reference set called “The ABMS Compendium of Certified Medical Professionals,” which lists optometrists and some biographical information.
• The Consumer’s Guide to Top Doctors provides a state-by-state listing of medical specialists most frequently mentioned in a survey of doctors.

It is now common for optometrists to use computerised equipment for examination of eye conditions such as glaucoma, whereas before they relied on manual diagnosis tools. They also have other equipment such as tonometers to measure the pressure build-up in the eyes, as well as digital imaging equipment for diagnosing eye diseases affecting the back of eye. With these tools, an optometrist can effectively prescribe medication or recommend a suitable course of action for dealing with most eye afflictions.

As every eye is unique and visual needs vary, a good optometrist should be able to properly assess an eye and prescribe eye care solutions according to an individual’s vision needs. There are a series of eye tests in about twelwe-step assessment.

The trick is to find an optometrist who is able to analyse the results of the test accurately and prescribe eye care solutions suited to your lifestyle and vision needs.

The field of Optometry is massive, and one can get involved easily. make sure you make a quick visit every so often to make sure your eyes are holding up, and you should be good to go!