Can an Optometrist Provide Essential Eye Care Services?

The good news is that there are programs that offer free or low-cost eye exams and eyeglasses, and some health insurance plans also provide free eye exams and help cover the cost of other eye care services.

One of the most important preventive measures to preserve vision and overall health is comprehensive, in-person eye care provided by an optometrist.

Monitoring eye health can help ensure that patients see their best and meet individual visual needs related to their occupations, hobbies, and lifestyle. Whether you have eye health or urgent care problems, if you are concerned about your vision or vision-related issues such as digital eye fatigue or dry eyes, or if it's time for a complete eye exam or contact lens evaluation, the public can continue to consider AOA doctors as trusted health professionals who provide essential primary eye care. Professionals who specialize in treating vision and vision disorders include ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians.

Depending on the health system, patients with urgent or emergency ophthalmic needs are advised to consult their local optometrist before going to hospital emergency rooms.

The truth is that there are a number of components that are part of a complete face-to-face eye exam with an optometrist

and there is no substitute. In addition, changes in refractive state can be an underlying symptom of several eye or systemic conditions, which can only be detected through a complete face-to-face eye exam performed by an optometrist. The optometrist bills your group eye insurance for the visit and any other service you need and that is covered by the policy.

If the optometrist discovers an eye condition that requires medical intervention, you will be referred to an ophthalmologist who can provide medical care for that condition. Whether you have eye health or urgent care needs, eye or vision concerns, such as digital eye fatigue or dry eyes, or it's time for a full eye exam or contact lens evaluation, patients are encouraged to schedule appointments with their local optometric doctor to cover their essential primary eye care needs. As optometry offices reopen and operations continue with a new normal, the AOA and member optometry doctors are working to ensure the safe and continuous provision of essential eye care by optometry doctors during the COVID-19 public health emergency for patients and the public. Healthy people can continue to wear and care for their contact lenses as prescribed by their optometrist.

States have reopened access to healthcare and optometrists across the country are safely providing the full range of comprehensive eye and vision health care, including basic routine and urgent care, emergencies, telehealth visits, and more. Sudden changes, such as blurred vision or even a change in the floating particles in the eyes, may indicate that there is something serious about the eyes that an optometrist cannot avoid. An eye doctor is a technician trained to check and adjust eyeglasses and contact lenses and usually follows the instructions of an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Please note that the above information is not intended to replace having your vision checked by an optometrist in the office.

Optometry offices are implementing new protocols to provide the care patients seek in a safe and healthy environment. An optometrist is not a doctor but a specialist who usually deals with vision-related issues such as performing vision tests and corrections as well as treating and managing changes in vision. It is important to remember that preventive measures such as comprehensive face-to-face exams with an optometrist are essential for preserving vision and overall health.