What Does an Optometrist Do?

Answer:
An optometrist is a doctor, but not technically

a medical doctor. Instead, an optometrist is an OD, or doctor of optometry. Optometrists have licenses that allow them to conduct eye examinations, prescribe glasses and contact lenses, and diagnose some eye diseases.

For conditions requiring surgery, optometrists refer patients to ophthalmologists. Some optometrists provide pre- and post-operative care to patients undergoing eye surgery, although optometrists do not perform the surgery.

Optometrists give routine eye examinations, recommended once every year for people who wear glasses or contacts, and diagnose specific vision problems. They test color perception, depth perception, and visual acuity. Optometrists also routinely check for symptoms of glaucoma, to try and catch the disease before it is advanced. Many optometrists work in private practice, and also oversee the running of their office.