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Doctor Of Optometry by Amucha: 10:27am On Jul 31, 2014 |
What is a Doctor of Optometry? Doctor of Optometry Professional Programs Optometry Schools and Colleges Doctors of Optometry (O.D.s/optometrists) are the independent primary health care professionals for the eye. Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye. Doctors of Optometry prescribe medications, low vision rehabilitation, vision therapy, spectacle lenses, contact lenses, and perform certain surgical procedures. Optometrists counsel their patients regarding surgical and non-surgical options that meet their visual needs related to their occupations, avocations, and lifestyle. An optometrist has completed pre-professional undergraduate education in a college or university and four years of professional education at a college of optometry, leading to the doctor of optometry (O.D.) degree. Some optometrists complete an optional residency in a specific area of practice. Optometrists are eye health care professionals state-licensed to diagnose and treat diseases and disorders of the eye and visual system. -Approved by the AOA Board of Trustees, June 2012 4 Likes |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by Zeus777: 12:04pm On Jul 31, 2014 |
Read ur own post carefully and you will see that nigerian health system is disjointed. An optometrist is a primary health care giver like u rightly pointed out. So I wonder why they are bein posted to secondary and tertiary health institutions where we already Hv the opthalmologist ( a specialist medical Doctor)who is trained to manage complicated eye conditions.only to find the optometrist competing for consulting rooms and patient wt the opthalmologist!! Optometrist are supose to be at the primary health centres then refer difficult cases to the secondary or tertiary hospital to be seen by opthalmologist 1 Like |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by Amucha: 12:22pm On Jul 31, 2014 |
Primary means first point of call in case of any ocular /eye problem. The Optometrist is suppose to see the patient first in any health facility before referral but in most health facilities the reverse is the case. The Optometrist can also refer patients to a consultant in any field of Optometry. Take note 7 Likes |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by jekwuojoto(m): 1:34pm On Jul 31, 2014 |
Unfortunately the Opthalmologists have succeeded in turning things upside down in public healthcare facilities. they've now turned themselves into both primary $ secondary healthcare providers. They just send pxs to Optometrists for refraction(that's if they like). Their umbrella body the NMA are now on strike, part of their agitations being that only their members should be appointed as consultants irrespective of field of study $ area of residency............There is GOd ooh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 6 Likes |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by Martin0001: 2:01pm On Jul 31, 2014 |
In addition Optometrists as Primary health care practitioners can detect systemic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, neurological conditions including tumours eg pituitary tumours and refer appropriately to the relevant specialists for proper care. We know that most of these conditions go undetected for years but by visiting an Optometrist for visual/eye complaints, they can be detected thereby saving life. 1 Like |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by allycat: 3:19pm On Jul 31, 2014 |
If you say you are a primary health care worker or professional, then you should have nothing against working in the primary health care setting. It is because there is no manpower at that level that all the patients keep going to the secondary and tertiary health centres and hospitals ie general hospital, specialist hospitals and teaching hospitals. |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by Amucha: 3:41pm On Jul 31, 2014 |
allycat: If you say you are a primary health care worker or professional, then you should have nothing against working in the primary health care setting. It is because there is no manpower at that level that all the patients keep going to the secondary and tertiary health centres and hospitals ie general hospital, specialist hospitals and teaching hospitals. Doctors of Optometry also work in primary health centers like any other Doctor |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by allycat: 3:52pm On Jul 31, 2014 |
Of course Doctors of Optometry work at PHC's, they should if they are primary health care practitioners. What is strange is someone saying I am a primary health practitioner and complaining about the person who is a tertiary health practitioner not allowing him to work in a tertiary health centre. 2 Likes |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by optm(m): 4:21pm On Jul 31, 2014 |
there are different areas of specialties in d field of optometry. A specialist optometrist wld nt b at d primary level. 1 Like |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by donwhizkid(m): 6:10pm On Jul 31, 2014 |
@ Allycat.... D problem is dt u dnt undastand too well wat a primary Health care Means... Any Doctor dat has a first contact wit a patient is a Primary care giver... It means d first person a patinet should see is d primary health giver... Medical Doctors(GP) are also Primary health Givers... 2 Likes |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by donwhizkid(m): 7:36pm On Jul 31, 2014 |
Specialty Services that can be rendered by an Optometrist... Rehabilitative Services The Vision Therapy Section offers diagnostic and treatment services to a variety of patients with developmental, acquired and congenital visual problems including: Amblyopia Strabismus Binocular disorders Accommodative disorders Oculomotor disorders Visual perceptual dysfunctions related to learning Head Trauma The Head Trauma Rehabilitation Unit serves as a resource for rehabilitation hospitals and centers throughout the New York metro area providing comprehensive visual evaluations and visual services to individuals with acquired head trauma and strokes. These services include: Refractive evaluation that may reveal the need for special glasses Ocular health assessment and management Binocular and accommodative evaluation State-of-the-art visual field evaluation for defects and visual neglect Electro-diagnostic assessment of eye movement Learning Disabilities The Learning Disabilities Unit provides diagnostic and therapy services for children, adolescents and adults with learning-related visual dysfunctions. The unit is staffed by optometrists and PhD psychologists. Diagnostic services include: Binocular, accommodative and eye movement evaluatio Visual perceptual evaluation Comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation Low Vision The Low Vision Unit helps individuals with reduced central or peripheral vision make the most of their remaining vision and improve performance of daily activities such as reading, writing and watching television. Vision rehabilitation measures can include: Prescription and training in the use of optical and non-optical low vision aids Sun wear and lighting evaluations Recommendations of high-tech devices such as electronic magnifiers and computer adaptations Referral to other professionals such as social workers, vision rehabilitation teachers and/or orientation and mobility specialists. Our comprehensive low vision evaluation carefully assesses the patient’s current visual status, identifies goals and visual needs and designs an individualized rehabilitation plan to meet these needs. Contact Lens Services The Specialty Contact Lens Unit examines and treats patients in need of contact lenses for a variety of ocular conditions including: Degenerative process (keratoconus, keratoglobus, pellucid marginal degeneration) Postoperative conditions following surgery such as corneal transplant, refractive surgery, etc. Ocular trauma Pediatric aphakia High myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism Corneal refractive therapy (orthokeratology) Cosmetic lenses due to scarring Prosthetic lenses for non-seeing eyes or after enucleation Patients who have been previous unsuccessful contact lens wearers Our staff includes doctors with experience and expertise unsurpassed in the contact lens field in fitting specialty “hard-to-fit” patients. We have an extensive contact lens inventory and state-of-the-art ophthalmic instrumentation to aid in the diagnosis and management of the ocular condition. The University Eye Center is involved in both research and development of new contact lenses and lens solutions. Pediatrics The Pediatrics Unit provides comprehensive eye exams for infants, preschoolers, school-age children and children with special needs. The unit also provides vision therapy for infants and preschoolers, as well as consultation services in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric patients. The Pediatrics Unit is staffed by optometrists who specialize in the eye and vision care of young children and are committed to providing the highest level of primary and secondary care for our patients. Infants Vision The Infants Vision Unit serves the visual needs of children from birth through 4 years of age. Children with Special Needs Our Children with Special Needs Unit serves the visual needs of children (up to age 21) with physical and developmental challenges. Initial evaluations are provided as well as any necessary rehabilitative care. This unit works closely with occupational, physical and speech therapists. 4 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by Nobody: 10:31pm On Jul 31, 2014 |
Please I'll like you to shed light on the specialist courses an optometrist can study that are offered in Nigeria. Secondly do you hav any idea why the Nigerian college of Optometrist dont advertise for admission into the College? The last advert I saw was dated 2012. Tanx. |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by allycat: 2:20pm On Aug 01, 2014 |
donwhizkid: @ Allycat.... D problem is dt u dnt undastand too well wat a primary Health care Means... Any Doctor dat has a first contact wit a patient is a Primary care giver... It means d first person a patinet should see is d primary health giver... Medical Doctors(GP) are also Primary health Givers... Of course Gas are primary health care givers, that's why you don't see them running specialist clinics in tertiary health care centres like teaching hospitals. Why do you think most teaching hospitals do not see patients without a referral letter. The reason is that the patients should have been seen by a primary care practitioner and sometimes even at the secondary health care level and only when there is need for extra care should they now be referred to a tertiary health care facility. It is because people do not believe that will get adequate care at the primary health care centres they are all rushing to teaching and specialist centres even for malaria. And part of the reason is that people trained to work at primary health care level would prefer to work in tertiary centres and then complain that they are not being allowed to do their job. 2 Likes |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by allycat: 2:23pm On Aug 01, 2014 |
GP's not gas |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by Arosam(m): 3:15pm On Aug 01, 2014 |
Most of this Primary Healthcare centres are short of staffs, in some, like the one in my area have only one Nurse. Our Government need to revisit PHC conditions. |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by optm(m): 5:59pm On Aug 01, 2014 |
d meds ar also guilty of dis so u c my broda first put ur pple in order. If i shld go by dis GP's shld nt b in our teachin hospitals right? In ubth a teaching hospital they hav GPC. Nd no body is raising up issues abt it so whoz fooling who? Probably i may nt get u right so enlighten me |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by allycat: 11:13pm On Aug 01, 2014 |
The GPC in UBTH is not manned by Gp's fresh out of medical school but by consultants and residents in family medicine. |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by allycat: 11:27pm On Aug 01, 2014 |
In the teaching hospitals the General out patient clinic acts as a screening point for patients without referrals who are then sent to the proper department eg Paediatrics, Opthalmology, Cardiology. If the case does not require specialist treatment they treat them and sometimes refer them back to a general hospital or their health centres. What many people don't realize is that almost every doctor in a teaching hospital is involved in medical education, either as residents or as lecturers in the medical college. The primary purpose for which the teaching hospital is set up is to train medical personnel. All doctors know this and so no Gp will apply to come and work GP in a teaching hospital. What you have in that department are residents in training under a consultant. |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by originbm: 1:53pm On Oct 04, 2014 |
Zeus777: |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by originbm: 2:07pm On Oct 04, 2014 |
Zeus777: 1.A primary health care practitioner means they are the first point of entry in the eye care practice.They should refer cases to the ophthalmologists or other specialists as the case maybe ,other than the other way round in which the opthalmologist use the services of the optometrist as a form of differential diagnosis. 2.Like u said,the opthalmologist MANAGE complicated eye conditions.optometrists are trained to DETECT and DIAGNOSE these complicated eye conditions.How about opthalmologists let optometrists do this without feeling threatened. What i find funny is ophthalmologist extending "complicated" to mean any condition outside refractive errors.who is fooling who. In private clinics optometrists successfully manage all those conditions opthalmologists are quick to label as 'complicated'. Its all about the money....make no mistake about that. 1 Like |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by Parasitic(m): 4:51pm On Oct 04, 2014 |
Why do hospitals doesnt engage optometrists as interns |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by optm(m): 3:38pm On Oct 12, 2014 |
Parasitic:some hospitals do but some ophathalmologist re fightin hard to frustrate it. |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by Luchiana1(f): 7:00pm On Apr 11, 2015 |
What are the Universities that offer Direct entry to doctor of optometry in nigeria?? Nd d requirement?? |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by Luchiana1(f): 1:04am On Apr 14, 2015 |
Amucha:wch school r u in ? Do they take DE in ur school |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by Luchiana1(f): 1:08am On Apr 14, 2015 |
Is ther anyone that travelled abroad to study optometry?? How do i do d OAT exam here in Nigeria?? |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by Luchiana1(f): 1:12am On Apr 14, 2015 |
allycat:please wch universities offer direct entry to optometry in nigeria and requirements cc donwhizkid, amucha,allycat, optm etc 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by crystal96: 11:16pm On Feb 05, 2021 |
You obviously do not understand the role of an opthalmologist. An ophthalmologist is trained to manage both complicated and uncomplicated cases. If a woman in labour presents to an obstetrician should they send her back to a midwife? originbm: |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by optm(m): 6:36am On Feb 08, 2021 |
crystal96:what should be the entry point for health care? Primary , secondary or tertiary ? |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by optm(m): 6:38am On Feb 08, 2021 |
Luchiana1:sorry i must have skipped this. Trust you got your enquiry sorted as at when needed? |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by Owoho: 4:45pm On Feb 23, 2021 |
Am in need of extenship space o |
Re: Doctor Of Optometry by optm(m): 9:33pm On Feb 23, 2021 |
Owoho:which state? |
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