This thread was previously posted as a comment on an earlier thread but I feel we could disprove some myths address more issues



PS. This is not a thread to discuss Lucrativeness or clinical/social superiority of any group. Posting such could be treated as thread derailment.



Per the optician, optometrist, ophthalmologist dilemma, I'd
like to discuss it using the Nigerian situation because
information found on the internet may not be wholly
applicable to our case.
Also, I'd like to point out that the levels and extent of basic
healthcare provided in a domain is set and limited by
legislature. Two individuals with the same qualification in
different countries may offer differing level of care. And if the
act establishing these professions is amended tomorrow,
this discourse becomes a history leSSON
OPTICIANRY


An optician is a professional who is trained in dispensing
optics, and is capable of receiving, interpreting and
supplying ophthalmic lenses ; spectacles, contact lenses and
low vision aids. An optician can independently sell frames,
sunglasses, artificial eyes, cosmetic contact lenses and even
Oculus Rift. Dispensing optics is a two or three year
programme done Diploma-style in optometry schools. Their
regulatory board is the ODORBN- Optometry and dispensing
optician regulatory board etc.


OPTOMETRY
An optometrist is an individual who has completed a 6yr
optometry programme and awarded doctor of optometry. He
is expected to complete a single year internship programme.
The course has its own fellowship and post graduate
schools and a newly inaugurated residency programme.
An optom as I prefer to call them is capable of handling
ocular emergencies, infective cases, refraction leading to
prescription of glasses and contact lenses, treats eye
ailments, low vision rehab and orthoptics.
In Nigeria, refraction, LV and orthoptics are their exclusive
preserve. LV and orthoptics are specialty areas, saying
every optom can do them is like saying every MD can do a
cardio bypass shunt surgery or neurosurgery.
I'd like to point out that the ailments treated have a limit ,
however this should not concern the layman as optometrist
are involved in the co-managment of every case. At their set
limits, they are expected to refer. Common cases referred
are cataract surgery, deep penetrating/perforating corneal
injury, laser trabeculoplasty, photo coagulation and ocular/
orbital tumours. Optom also do dispensing optics in school,
herein lies a problem that would be seen later.


OPHTHALMOLOGY
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor that after completing
his MBBS, went on to specialize in ophthalmology. From his
MBBS experience, he is able to carry out surgery, though
most of the special skill is learnt at the post graduate level.
So, he can practice general medicine and do ocular work
too. Considering the fact that he is often in a general
hospital, most patients get to meet him first thus bypassing
the optom. And at the limit of his powers, he refers refractive
cases to the optom, and this fuels the stereotype that optom
only does glasses. And economically it is more viable to
employ ophthalm considering their versatility in general
practice. And moreover there are just five or six optom
schools in Nigeria.


GREY AREAS AND HOTSPOTS
The optician and optom have overlapping points and it
breeds conflict often. Most optom send their jobs to
opticians but this doesn't stop the optician from engaging in
illicit behaviour such as refracting patients and giving drugs.
I ran a screening programme for a multinational a few years
back, and we had men from every group on our team- we
even have hype men and bouncers at times [sic] … I
observed that my optician was jotting like ManUtd manager,
when I got closer after a while, I saw she had written
complaints and drugs given.. That's how they start. We
also see lots of optom and ophthalmol that practice beyond
their scope. Lots of!
Another issue is that of employment in the civil service. I
don't want to discuss those issues but to appeal to all
parties to act on the philosophy of mutual respect and
human dignity. I hope I remained impartial throughout .

There is another angle to this issue.
Before Optometry became a 6 year course it was a 4 year BSc program... After the upgrade a two year conversion course was set up, but many of the old optoms have not converted. These optoms are not trained to prescribe drugs and handle some diseases but today a lot of them have blended into the game without looking back.

Another problem is the apparent weakness of the ODORBN especially in the aspects of fishing out defaulters and stamping out community screening done by quacks. If the board can tackle quackery then Nigerians and expatriates would be safer..

Thank u 4 d info. Very enlightening

Nice one.