Berkeley Optometry: Primary Care & Optometric Services

Optometrists also diagnose and refer patients to other health care providers for a variety of general health conditions that are frequently found during the primary eye examination.

Primary Care (from the American Optometric Association)

Doctors of Optometry are independent primary health care providers who examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures, as well as diagnose related systemic conditions.

Optometrists examine the internal and external structures of the eyes to diagnose eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal disorders; systemic diseases, including hypertension and diabetes; and vision conditions such as near-sightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. They also perform tests to determine the patient's ability to focus and coordinate the eyes, and to judge depth and see colors accurately.

Optometrists prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses, low vision aids, vision therapy, and medications to treat eye diseases, as well as perform certain surgical procedures.

As primary eye care providers, optometrists are an integral part of the health care team and an entry point into the health care system. They are skilled in the co-management of care that affects the health of the eye and the vision of their patients, and they are an excellent source of referral to other health care professionals.

Summary of Optometric Procedures

Procedure	Example
Diagnosis and treatment of systemic and ocular disease, and referrals to other health care specialists	Infection, inflammation, glaucoma, cataracts, retinal disorders; and systemic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes
Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of anomalies in vision	Myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism, amblyopia ("lazy eye"), presbyopia (near vision defect), color accuracy, and depth perception
Diagnosis and treatment of oculomotor malfunctions	Binocular vision defects, heterophoria (latent "eye turn"), and strabismus ("turned eye")
Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of refractive errors	Prescribing corrective lenses, contact lenses, aniseikonic (image size) lenses, low vision aids, and vision therapy
Evaluation of patients pre- and post-operatively for treatment	Cataracts and refractive surgery.
Assessment and treatment with special optical devices	Patients with permanently reduced vision
Miscellaneous procedures	Foreign body removal, epilation of eye lashes, culturing for pathogens, and ocular imaging
Counseling of patients	Patients with partial sight, color blindness, or hereditary vision defects
Consulting for schools, government, and industry	Eye screenings, lighting, and safety programs