Optometrist

Optometrists offer vision care and eye care services. They are responsible for primary health care for the eye. An optometry degree usually takes 3 – 7 years depending on the university, school of optometry and country of study. Optometrists perform eye exams and vision tests, including a refraction to determine your eye prescription and recommendation for eyeglasses and contact lenses. Optometrists will perform your regular eye exam yearly or every two years to update your prescription, and for certain eye conditions, they also prescribe medication and other treatment. They are the frontline of eye care, providing services to help improve eye health conditions. Optometrists are not surgical specialists, so they don’t treat all severe eye conditions. Depending on the legislation, in some states they can perform minor surgeries such as foreign body removal, laser eye surgery, and some other minor surgical services. Optometrists are qualified eye care specialists who take care of eye conditions by examining, diagnosing and medically treating. Optometrists work in different settings such as hospitals, research, teaching, eyewear shops and other health practices.