Introduction
Eyes are one of the most important parts of your body, and it’s important to keep them healthy. That’s why many people turn to their optometrists for help when they have an issue with their vision or other types of eye health problems. In this article, we’ll explain what optometrists do, how much they charge for services, what kind of education you need to become one yourself (or find a good one), and more!
What does an optometrist do?
An optometrist is a doctor who specializes in eye care. They examine your eyes and provide eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision services. The most common type of eye disease that optometrists treat is nearsightedness (myopia), which occurs when light enters the eye too strongly or too quickly due to an increase in refractive error. If you’re nearsighted, this can cause blurry vision at reading distance or far away objects may appear fuzzy; however, there are several different types of myopia ranging from mild to severe forms that require different treatment depending on how severe they are.
Optometrists perform many types of tests on patients including visual field testing where they examine the area around each eye separately with special equipment so they can determine if any problems exist before prescribing glasses/contacts etc., dilated retinal examinations where bright lights shine into each eye for 30 seconds at time intervals throughout day time hours; asking about current symptoms such as headaches/eye strain etc.; performing emergency assessments when someone has sudden onset pain or blurred vision after noticing something unusual happening during daily routine activities such as driving car
What kind of education do you need to be an optometrist?
If you want to be an optometrist, there are two types of education that are required. The first is your bachelor’s degree and then the second is your professional degree.
An optometry school is four years long, so those who graduate with an undergraduate degree in science or medicine will most likely go on to do their postgraduate studies at university.
However, if someone has completed their bachelor’s degree but doesn’t have any experience working with patients before graduation day (or if they have just completed their undergraduate studies without any specific training), then it’s possible for them to enter into clinical training after graduating from college! This can take anywhere from one year up to four years depending on how much time was spent studying during high school/university days vs competing against other students while attending community colleges across America who want nothing more than one thing: A high paying job back home where they grew up as soon as possible after finishing college because come on now…where else would anyone live?
How is being an optometrist different from being a doctor or an ophthalmologist?
Optometrists are physicians. They are not medical doctors, though they may prescribe medications and perform minor surgery. Optometrists do not specialize in ophthalmology (the study of eyes), nor do they usually have a surgical background or training.
Opticians are eye care professionals who also provide optometry services—that is, the diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to vision as well as fitting contact lenses—but most opticians do not have medical training either.
What’s the difference between an optometrist and an orthoptist?
Optometrists are the eye doctors that you see when you go to your local optician. They diagnose and treat eye diseases, while orthoptists focus on prescribing glasses and contact lenses (and sometimes even prescribing lenses for corrective vision).
The difference between an optologist and an orthoptist can be confusing, but it’s important to know the difference between these two specialties so that you can make sure your next visit goes smoothly!
Are there different types of optometry?
- There are many types of opticians plainview, and they each practice a different type of vision care. Some are primary care providers, while others specialize in contact lenses or vision therapy.
- The most common specialty is low vision optometry—focused on helping people with low-vision conditions such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.
- Other specialties include:
- Contact lens prescribing (this includes fitting new contacts)
- Vision therapy (helping people learn how to use their existing eyesight better)
How much can I expect to pay for eye exams with my Medicare plan in 2020?
Medicare Part B covers the cost of an eye exam, and it’s free for the first year. After that, you’ll have to pay a monthly premium. You can also buy a plan with extra coverage if you want more coverage than what Medicare offers.
If your health insurance does not cover your eye exams and glasses prescriptions—or if you don’t have any health insurance at all—you can use your Medicare card to get discounts on glasses and contacts from participating optometrists around town.
How do I find a good optometrist in my area?
You can find a good optometrist by asking around. Ask your friends and family if they have any recommendations, or look online for reviews of local providers. You’ll also want to make sure that the doctor is accepting new patients—this means he or she has been practicing for at least one year, so you know he or she is experienced enough to take care of your eye health needs!
If you’re interested in learning more about what it takes for an optometrist to become certified as such (and how much training goes into it), check out our guide “How Do Optometrists Get Their Certified?”
Why should I go see an optometrist as often as they recommend if I don’t have any symptoms?
If you’re healthy and have no symptoms, it’s not necessary to see an optometrist every year. But if you’re interested in getting a comprehensive eye exam, or just want to make sure your prescription is up-to-date, then this can be an important part of your routine.
If you have any early signs of disease or macular degeneration—or even if you don’t have any symptoms at all—an annual eye exam is important for overall health and quality of life!
Do I have to have health insurance to see an optometrist?
In some states, you can get free eye exams from your local optometrist. But if you live in one of those states and don’t have health insurance, there’s no way to get an eye exam for free.
If that’s the case for you, then I recommend getting a yearly prescription for cheap sunglasses and seeing how long it takes before the lenses break or crack (or just wear them until they do break).
If your eyesight will be affected by glasses anyway—such as if it’s blurry or hard to focus on something close-up—then maybe it would be worth paying out-of-pocket just to avoid having to deal with uncomfortable contact lenses during daily activities like driving or reading something close up at work.*
Can an eye exam tell if I have a brain tumor or other serious health issues?
An eye exam isn’t a substitute for a thorough medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. It can tell you if you have glaucoma or cataracts, but it won’t diagnose diabetes or high blood pressure.
The most common reason people come in for an annual eye exam is to detect vision problems that may be caused by aging or other conditions such as:
- Glaucoma (a condition where fluid builds up in the eye)
- Cataracts (clouding of lenses)
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which causes night blindness
Are there any symptoms that should send me straight to the ER instead of the eye doctor?
If you experience any of the following symptoms, go to the ER immediately:
- blurred vision
- redness in the eye
- pain in the eye (and it’s not just a headache)
- double vision
If you have any of these symptoms and they don’t improve with eyewash or with taking Tylenol or ibuprofen, go to your doctor right away!
Your eyes aren’t fooling you — there are many types of doctors who can take care of your eye health, but they all have different roles.
There are many types of doctors who can take care of your eye health, but they all have different roles. Your optometrist is selected to be an expert in the field and has undergone a rigorous training program to ensure he or she has the necessary skills to provide excellent care.
If you’re having trouble finding a primary care doctor who specializes in ophthalmology (the study of eyes), here’s what you need to know:
- Your eyes aren’t fooling you — there are many types of doctors who can take care of your eye health, but they all have different roles. You need to know what they do so that you can get the right care for them.
Conclusion
We know that there are many options out there when it comes to your eye care, and we hope this article has helped you understand how they work. We also want you to know that there are different types of optometrists who specialize in different areas like contact lenses or laser vision correction. If you’re looking for an eye doctor near me, check out our directory of local optometrists today!
