Most any patient with a primary vision care need will find their way to a Doctor of Optometry. These physicians examine, diagnose, treat, and manage eye diseases and disorders. Their responsibilities include both administering and prescribing treatments for eye disease, prescribing vision correction lenses, vision therapy, and low-vision aids. Often special tests and tools are used to identify and evaluate vision defects that are symptomatic of other diseases. The majority of optometrists are in private practice, usually in their own offices, though opportunities also exist in health maintenance organizations (HMOs), multidisciplinary practices, hospitals, commercial optical facilities, and commissions in the military.
Students must earn a bachelor’s degree and complete a four-year accredited program at a college of optometry. All applicants must take the Optometric Admissions Test (OAT) to be considered for admission to a college of optometry.