Eye care professional
Encyclopedia
An eye care professional is an individual who provides a service related to the eye
s or vision
. It is a general term that can refer to any healthcare worker involved in eye care, from one with a small amount of post-secondary training to practitioners with a doctoral level of education.
Another important difference between the types of oculists is that while optometrists may obtain their doctorate
by graduating at a special school in which they are trained to be optometrists, ophthalmologists are medical doctors who need to graduate from medical school
and many years of internships in order to be able to get their degree
. Moreover, because of their more advanced background in the study of eye care, ophthalmologists may proceed in their studying in this field and specializing in domains such as pediatric ophthalmology, corneal disease or ocular oncology
. This is the reason why ophthalmologists are often classified as surgeon
s rather than doctors.
The term "oculist" was therefore used to describe these two professions as a result of the similarities that exist between the two. Firstly, both ophthalmologists and optometrists receive the appropriate training which will help them in detecting the vision related problems and to diagnose and treat certain eye conditions.
Vision therapists typically rely on prisms
, eye patches, filtered lenses, and computerized systems to conduct therapy sessions.
Most eye care professionals do not practice iridology
, citing a significant lack of scientific evidence for the practice.
describes an ophthalmologist as follows:
An optometrist is defined by the World Council of Optometry (a member of the World Health Organisation) as follows:
The World Health Organization
defines the eyecare work of an orthoptist as:
Two important distinctions are evident in these definitions:
There are also important similarities. Both optometrists and ophthalmologists treat patients with medications, optical aids and eye exercises; orthoptists treat using optical aids and eye exercises. All perform screenings for common ocular problems affecting children (such as amblyopia
and strabismus
) and the adult population (such as cataract
s, glaucoma
, and diabetic retinopathy
). All are required to participate in ongoing continuing education courses to maintain licensure and stay current on the latest standards of care.
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) is an international optometric organization representing 250,000 optometrists from 80 member organizations in 45 countries and which is registered in England
and Wales
. It is also the only such organization that maintains official relations with the World Health Organization
and it is one of the members of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness
.
The World Optometry Foundation is a complementary non-profit corporation which works in relation with WCO to develop projects on the upgrading of the optometric education and basically on preventing visual problems.
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness was established in 1975. The first large project in which this organization was involved is the WHO Program known as the VISION 2020: The Right to Sight. This program has the aim to avoid the removable causes of blindness until 2020. The headquarters are in United Kingdom
, but the organization has offices widely spread around the world, in big cities of all the continents.
Human eye
The human eye is an organ which reacts to light for several purposes. As a conscious sense organ, the eye allows vision. Rod and cone cells in the retina allow conscious light perception and vision including color differentiation and the perception of depth...
s or vision
Visual perception
Visual perception is the ability to interpret information and surroundings from the effects of visible light reaching the eye. The resulting perception is also known as eyesight, sight, or vision...
. It is a general term that can refer to any healthcare worker involved in eye care, from one with a small amount of post-secondary training to practitioners with a doctoral level of education.
Current terminology
- Ophthalmologist – An eye surgeon who is a Doctor of MedicineDoctor of MedicineDoctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
or a Doctor of Osteopathic MedicineDoctor of Osteopathic MedicineDoctor of Osteopathic Medicine is a professional doctoral degree for physicians in the United States. Holders of the MD degree, Doctor of Medicine, have the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as osteopathic physicians in the United States.The American Osteopathic Association’s Commission...
(MD or DO). In the US, this requires four years of college, four years of medical school, one year general internship, three years of residency, then optional fellowship for 1 to 2 years additionally. - Ophthalmic medical practitionerOphthalmic medical practitionerAn ophthalmic medical practitioner is a medical practitioner. In the UK they are registered with a qualification in ophthalmology who is employed to carry out medical eye examinations and prescribe glasses, contact lenses, eyepatches and other orthoptic treatment...
– A medical doctor (MD) who specializes in ophthalmic conditions but who has not completed a specialization in ophthalmology. - Optometrist – An eye doctor (OD) who is a Doctor of Optometry who treats eye diseases and disorders but specializes in optics and refractive vision correction. In the United States, they are defined as physicians under medicare, and all states allow treatment of eye diseases by therapeutic licensed optometrists, but the extent varies by state. In addition to prescription eye drops, 47 states have oral prescribing rights, some states allow injections and Oklahoma and Kentucky allow for certain laser surgeries. In other countries they can treat with a limited number of pharmaceuticals. In the US and a small number of countries they do perform level 1 surgeries.
- In most countries other than the USA, optometry is either a 4 year or 5 year college degree and they are not classified as doctors (except in the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
). - In the USA, the standard education is four years of college and four years of optometry school at an accredited Doctor of Optometry (OD) program. An additional one to two years of residency, internship, fellowship and/or specialty training is required for qualification in certain positions. All optometry colleges in the U.S. currently provide training in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and level 1 in office surgical procedures.
- In most countries other than the USA, optometry is either a 4 year or 5 year college degree and they are not classified as doctors (except in the Philippines
- Orthoptist – Specializes in diagnosis and management of ocular motility, amblyopiaAmblyopiaAmblyopia, also known as lazy eye, is a disorder of the visual system that is characterized by a vision deficiency in an eye that is otherwise physically normal, or out of proportion to associated structural abnormalities of the eye...
and binocular visionBinocular visionBinocular vision is vision in which both eyes are used together. The word binocular comes from two Latin roots, bini for double, and oculus for eye. Having two eyes confers at least four advantages over having one. First, it gives a creature a spare eye in case one is damaged. Second, it gives a...
disorders, as outlined by the International Orthoptic AssociationInternational Orthoptic AssociationThe International Orthoptic Association represents over 20,000 orthoptists, in over 20 countries.- History :The International Orthoptic Association was formed in 1967 after the first International Orthoptic Congress. The British Orthoptic Association were the founding members. - Registration and...
. They may assist ophthalmologists in surgery, teach orthoptic students, students of other allied health professions, medical students, and ophthalmology residents and fellows, act as vision researchers, perform vision screening, perform low vision assessments and act as clinical administrators.- In many countries orthoptic education requires an undergraduate degree for program entry followed by a couple years of postgraduate studies in orthoptics
- In other countries orthoptics is offered as an Masters degree.
- OcularistOcularistAn ocularist is someone who specializes in the fabrication and fitting of ocular prostheses for people who have lost an eye or eyes due to trauma or illness...
– Specialize in the fabrication and fitting of ocular prostheses for people who have lost eyes due to trauma or illness. - OpticianOpticianAn optician is a person who is trained to fill prescriptions for eye correction in the field of medicine, also known as a dispensing optician or optician, dispensing...
– Specializes in the fitting and fabrication of ophthalmic lenses, spectacles, contact lenses, low visionLow visionLow vision is a subspecialty within the professions of optometry and ophthalmology dealing with individuals who have reduced vision even when using the best possible spectacle or contact lens correction available. It can be a result of either congenital disease Low vision is a subspecialty within...
aids and ocular prosthetics. They may also be referred to as an "optical dispenser", "dispensing optician", "ophthalmic dispenser". The prescription for the corrective lenses must be supplied by an ophthalmologist, optometrist or in some countries an orthoptist. This is a regulated profession in most jurisdictions. - Ophthalmic Medical Personnel – A collective term for allied health personnel in ophthalmology. It is often used to refer to specialized personnel (unlike ocularists or opticians).
- In many countries these allied personnel may just be known as an "ophthalmic assistant". Their training is usually combined with a two or three year applied science degree and they assist an ophthalmologist or orthoptist in the hospital or clinic with vision testing.
- In the USA the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in OphthalmologyJoint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in OphthalmologyThe Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology is the international certifying body for allied health personnel in the medical field of ophthalmology, who are collectively termed ophthalmic medical personnel...
administers OMP certifications:- Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) – entry level
- Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) – intermediate level
- Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) – advanced level
Older terminology
- Oculist – Either an ophthalmologist or optometrist. The term "oculist" was primarily used to describe eye care professionals that are trained and specialized in the eye care field. This is in fact a general term that can denote an ophthalmologist or an optometrist at the same time. The difference between these two types of oculists is made by the specializationsSpecialty (medicine)A specialty in medicine is a branch of medical science. After completing medical school, physicians or surgeons usually further their medical education in a specific specialty of medicine by completing a multiple year residency to become a medical specialist.-History of medical specialization:To...
they may choose. If the oculist is trained and specialized in treating medical conditions that may affect the eye and result in an eye defect will be referred to as an ophthalmologist. Optometrists, on the other hand, are the eye care professionals that are specialized in only treating eye defects by prescribing the appropriate corrective lenses. They are also referred to as "eye doctors". The main task of the optometrist is to correct the visual deficiencies with the help of the lenses. The main difference between these two professions is that although both of them may administer eye exams, only the ophthalmologist may solve eye-related problems that may occur in all areas of the eye. Nonetheless, optometrists are specialized in detecting vision problems and correcting them, but they may not perform tasks that ophthalmologists may, such as eye surgeryEye surgeryEye surgery, also known as orogolomistician surgery or ocular surgery, is surgery performed on the eye or its adnexa, typically by an ophthalmologist.-Preparation and precautions:...
.
Another important difference between the types of oculists is that while optometrists may obtain their doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
by graduating at a special school in which they are trained to be optometrists, ophthalmologists are medical doctors who need to graduate from medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
and many years of internships in order to be able to get their degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
. Moreover, because of their more advanced background in the study of eye care, ophthalmologists may proceed in their studying in this field and specializing in domains such as pediatric ophthalmology, corneal disease or ocular oncology
Ocular oncology
Ocular oncology is the branch of medicine dealing with tumors relating to the eye and its adnexa. Eye cancer can affect all parts of the eye.-Origin and location:...
. This is the reason why ophthalmologists are often classified as surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
s rather than doctors.
The term "oculist" was therefore used to describe these two professions as a result of the similarities that exist between the two. Firstly, both ophthalmologists and optometrists receive the appropriate training which will help them in detecting the vision related problems and to diagnose and treat certain eye conditions.
- Vision therapist – Usually either an orthoptist or optometrist. Works with patients that require vision therapy, such as low vision patients. Commonly, vision therapy is performed in children who develop problems with their vision mostly because they are using their eyes up close. This type of therapy is however generally used in patients who need visual correction but for whom the corrective lenses are not enough to reverse the condition. Visual therapy in children is performed by optometrists who specialize in children eye care. To specialize in vision therapy, doctors must complete extensive post-graduate training beyond their optometric degree, at which time they are eligible to sit for their national boards to become fully certified as specialists in children's vision. A doctor's title after passing the national board in vision therapy is Fellow in the College of Optometrists in Vision DevelopmentCollege of Optometrists in Vision DevelopmentThe College of Optometrists in Vision Development is an international, non-profit optometric membership organization that provides education, evaluation and board certification programs in behavioral and developmental vision care, vision therapy and visual rehabilitation...
, or F.C.O.V.D. Optometrists who provide vision therapy but who have not yet sat for their certification exams are board-eligible Associates in the College of Optometrists in Vision Development.
Vision therapists typically rely on prisms
Prism (optics)
In optics, a prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. The exact angles between the surfaces depend on the application. The traditional geometrical shape is that of a triangular prism with a triangular base and rectangular sides, and in colloquial use...
, eye patches, filtered lenses, and computerized systems to conduct therapy sessions.
Most eye care professionals do not practice iridology
Iridology
Iridology Iridology Iridology (also known as iridodiagnosis or iridiagnosis is an alternative medicine technique whose proponents claim that patterns, colors, and other characteristics of the iris can be examined to determine information about a patient's systemic health...
, citing a significant lack of scientific evidence for the practice.
The distinction between ophthalmologist, optometrist and orthoptist
The American Academy of OphthalmologyAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the largest national membership medical association of ophthalmologists–medical doctors specializing in eye care and surgery including medical, surgical and optical care. More than 90 percent of practicing U.S. Eye M.D.s are Academy members, and the...
describes an ophthalmologist as follows:
A medical doctor who specializes in all aspects of eye care including diagnosis, management, and surgery of ocular diseases and disorders.
An optometrist is defined by the World Council of Optometry (a member of the World Health Organisation) as follows:
Optometry is a healthcare profession that is autonomous, educated, and regulated (licensed/registered), and optometrists are the primary healthcare practitioners of the eye and visual system who provide comprehensive eye and vision care, which includes refractionRefractionRefraction is the change in direction of a wave due to a change in its speed. It is essentially a surface phenomenon . The phenomenon is mainly in governance to the law of conservation of energy. The proper explanation would be that due to change of medium, the phase velocity of the wave is changed...
and dispensing, detection of disease in the eye, and the rehabilitation of conditions of the visual system.
The World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
defines the eyecare work of an orthoptist as:
The study and treatment of defects in binocular vision resulting from defects in the optic musculature or of faulty visual habits. It involves a technique of eye exercises designed to correct the visual axes of eyes not properly coordinated for binocular vision.
Two important distinctions are evident in these definitions:
- Ophthalmologists are medical doctors and have attended medical school and specialize in surgical as well as medical care of the eye, optometrists are eyecare professionals who have attended optometry school that specialize in the refractive and primary medical care of the eye and vision, while orthoptists are eyecare professionals who have attended orthoptic school and specialize in the binocular visionBinocular visionBinocular vision is vision in which both eyes are used together. The word binocular comes from two Latin roots, bini for double, and oculus for eye. Having two eyes confers at least four advantages over having one. First, it gives a creature a spare eye in case one is damaged. Second, it gives a...
and pre/post surgical care of strabismus patients.
- Second, ophthalmologists are responsible for surgical treatment. Both ophthalmologists and optometrists treat ocular disease. Optometrists "provide comprehensive eye and vision care, which includes refractionRefractive errorA refractive error, or refraction error, is an error in the focusing of light by the eye and a frequent reason for reduced visual acuity.-Classification:...
and detection/diagnosis and limited management of disease in the eye." Optometrists refer to ophthalmologists patients requiring treatments such as ocular surgery, intraocular injections, and lasers. Orthoptists primarily work alongside ophthalmologists to co-manage binocular vision treatment, but also often do comprehensive eye and vision testing.
There are also important similarities. Both optometrists and ophthalmologists treat patients with medications, optical aids and eye exercises; orthoptists treat using optical aids and eye exercises. All perform screenings for common ocular problems affecting children (such as amblyopia
Amblyopia
Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, is a disorder of the visual system that is characterized by a vision deficiency in an eye that is otherwise physically normal, or out of proportion to associated structural abnormalities of the eye...
and strabismus
Strabismus
Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes are not properly aligned with each other. It typically involves a lack of coordination between the extraocular muscles, which prevents bringing the gaze of each eye to the same point in space and preventing proper binocular vision, which may adversely...
) and the adult population (such as cataract
Cataract
A cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light...
s, glaucoma
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently damaging vision in the affected eye and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye...
, and diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is retinopathy caused by complications of diabetes mellitus, which can eventually lead to blindness....
). All are required to participate in ongoing continuing education courses to maintain licensure and stay current on the latest standards of care.
International organizations
- International Council of Ophthalmology
- World Council of Optometry. WCO represents optometrists in 40 countries.
- International Orthoptic AssociationInternational Orthoptic AssociationThe International Orthoptic Association represents over 20,000 orthoptists, in over 20 countries.- History :The International Orthoptic Association was formed in 1967 after the first International Orthoptic Congress. The British Orthoptic Association were the founding members. - Registration and...
. IOA represents orthoptists in 20 countries.
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) is an international optometric organization representing 250,000 optometrists from 80 member organizations in 45 countries and which is registered in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It is also the only such organization that maintains official relations with the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
and it is one of the members of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness is a coordinating, umbrella organization to lead an international effort in mobilizing resources for blindness prevention activities. It was set up on January 1, 1975, by the late Sir John Wilson, the Founder President...
.
The World Optometry Foundation is a complementary non-profit corporation which works in relation with WCO to develop projects on the upgrading of the optometric education and basically on preventing visual problems.
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness was established in 1975. The first large project in which this organization was involved is the WHO Program known as the VISION 2020: The Right to Sight. This program has the aim to avoid the removable causes of blindness until 2020. The headquarters are in United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, but the organization has offices widely spread around the world, in big cities of all the continents.
See also
- American Optometric AssociationAmerican Optometric AssociationThe American Optometric Association represents optometrists nationally in the USA. It consists of State Optometric Associations, which are made up of local optometric societies.-AOA mission:...
- American Academy of OptometryAmerican Academy of OptometryThe American Academy of Optometry is an organization of optometrists. Its goal is to maintain and enhance excellence in optometric practice, by both promoting research and the dissemination of knowledge....
- American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and StrabismusAmerican Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and StrabismusThe American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus is an academic association of pediatric ophthalmologists and strabismus surgeons. The pediatric ophthalmology fellowships in the United States are accredited by the AAPOS...
- American Academy of OphthalmologyAmerican Academy of OphthalmologyThe American Academy of Ophthalmology is the largest national membership medical association of ophthalmologists–medical doctors specializing in eye care and surgery including medical, surgical and optical care. More than 90 percent of practicing U.S. Eye M.D.s are Academy members, and the...
- British Optical AssociationBritish Optical AssociationThe British Optical Association was founded in 1895 as the first professional body for ophthalmic opticians in the world. It ran the first professional examinations in optics in 1896 and provided the Secretariat for a number of other optical bodies including what would eventually become the...
- College of OptometristsCollege of OptometristsThe College of Optometrists is the professional, scientific and examining body for optometry in the United Kingdom, working for the public benefit.-History:...
- College of Optometrists in Vision DevelopmentCollege of Optometrists in Vision DevelopmentThe College of Optometrists in Vision Development is an international, non-profit optometric membership organization that provides education, evaluation and board certification programs in behavioral and developmental vision care, vision therapy and visual rehabilitation...
- Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in OphthalmologyJoint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in OphthalmologyThe Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology is the international certifying body for allied health personnel in the medical field of ophthalmology, who are collectively termed ophthalmic medical personnel...
- Optometric Extension ProgramOptometric Extension ProgramThe Optometric Extension Program is an international, non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of the discipline of optometry through the gathering and dissemination of information on vision. The mission of OEP is to advance human progress through research and education on vision, the...
- Worshipful Company of Spectacle MakersWorshipful Company of Spectacle MakersThe Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London, UK.The Company was founded by a Royal Charter of Charles I in 1629 AD; it was granted the status of a Livery Company in 1809...