Eye Clinic of Austin Family Vision Care
The Eye Clinic of Austin offers a full program of vision care for the entire family. Our highly trained team of optometry professionals and ophthalmic assistants are ready to provide you with advanced eyecare, products and resources. According to the American Optometric Association, Doctors of Optometry are the nation's largest eye care profession.
What is a Therapeutic Optometrist?
A Therapeutic Optometrist is a professional that has been educated and trained in eye examination and prescriptions of corrective lenses and other treatments for visual defects. They offer services that include comprehensive eye health and vision examinations; diagnosis and care of eye diseases and vision disorders; prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses, and can counsel patients on vision correction surgery including post-operative care.
Therapeutic Optometrist Education
A Therapeutic Optometrist first obtains a Bachelor's Degree then enters an accredited college of optometry to complete a four year graduate program to earn their doctoral degree. The extensive course study includes structure, function and disorders of the eye and general health in courses such as human anatomy, biochemistry and physiology. After completing the four year doctoral program the candidate holds the doctor of optometry (OD) degree. The optometrist may go on to a residency or internship program after graduating from optometry school. This allows the Optometrist to train for a sub-specialty such as low vision or pediatric optometry. All Optometrists must pass a national examination administered by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO). This is a three-part exam that includes basic science, clinical science and patient care. Therapeutic Optometrists practicing in the state of Texas are licensed and board certified by the Texas Optometry Board. The Optometrist is required to maintain their license and skills with continuing education. This ensures that they receive information on the latest standards of care, technological advances that include surgery techniques, prescriptive medications and other medical treatments related to eye disease. The Therapeutic Optometrist is also qualified to diagnose the ocular manifestations of diseases that affect the entire body, like diabetes and hypertension, evaluate their patients for surgery and even manage the patent's care both pre- and post-operatively.
What is an Optometric Glaucoma Specialist?
An optometric glaucoma specialist is licensed in Texas to administer and prescribe drugs authorized for the care and treatment of glaucoma.
In summary, Therapeutic Optometrists provide a wide variety of care, including:
- Identify, diagnose and eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataract, retinal disorders, eyelid disorders, and conjunctivitis.
- Treat by prescribing medications to treat eye diseases and eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions to treat vision conditions.
- Assess vision conditions by examination such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, presbyopia and keratoconus, as well as treat patients for these conditions.
- Perform foreign body removals and other minor surgical procedures.
- Care for pre- and post-operative glaucoma, refractive and cataract surgery patients.
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