Optometrist - Fort Belvoir, VA

What is Optometry?

Optometry is primary care for vision, dealing with vision correction and certain diseases of the eye. Optometrists are the medical providers who prescribe glasses and contact lenses, and they are usually the ones who perform annual eye exams.

Optometrists attend four years of graduate school after college to study the health, function, and care of the eye before they become licensed. They are not medical doctors, unlike ophthalmologists, so they cannot perform surgery. However, optometrists can diagnose diseases of the eye and prescribe vision therapy, medications, and vision correction, such as glasses.

Some common conditions that may be seen by an optometrist include:

Refractive disorders, such as myopia and astigmatism, which require lenses to correct the vision
Glaucoma, a condition where increased pressure within the eye leads to damage to the optic nerve, the nerve that carries light images from the eye to the brain
Dry eye, where there are insufficient tears to lubricate the eye
Common infections of the eye, such as conjunctivitis

An optometry exam involves checking the patient's vision as well as the eye itself and the tissues surrounding the eye. Optometrists may check the pressure of the eye or test to see how well the eyes focus and move. They may ask about any problems, discomfort, or concerns the patient has experienced related to their eyes.

Optometrists are the first stop for most people who need a medical provider to care for their vision health.