Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa
You have done a great public service by reminding (or informing those who did not know) people that only an ophthalmologist can identify and treat medical problems of the eye.
An optometrist is qualified to perform refraction measurements, external to the eye, so you may be fitted for eyeglasses. This is not a medical procedure. At Tampa Eye Clinic, where I get all of my eye examinations done, refractions are done by assistants, and procedures to examine or treat the interior of my eyes are done by a doctor.
All diabetics should have periodic examinations done by an ophthalmologist due to the hazard of developing diabetic retinopathy and eventual blindness.
An opthalmologic exam should be a part of the health care program of people of retirement age.
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Your post is grossly inaccurate in its description of optometry training and scope of practice. It may have been accurate prior to 1975, but not since then. Optometrists are trained extensively in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of external and internal ocular disease. State licensing of optometrists varies, but they are licensed to treat ocular disease by non-surgical means.
In my 34 years of practice in many different settings, I have been responsible for all types of patients. I routinely screened thousands of diabetic patients for retina changes including counseling them on controlling their disease. I identified and followed glaucoma suspects, referring them for definitive care when their test results indicated. I performed pre- and post-surgical care for cataract patients, strabismus patients, and others. I’ve successfully treated everything from external disease to internal disease. I’ve identified many patients with systemic diseases and referred them for proper care through their PCMD or specialist. And I was the “old guy”. The recent graduates of optometry training are far better prepared than I was.
If someone is more secure seeing an ophthalmologist for eyecare, I would not dissuade them. I have great appreciation for the skills and training of the ophthalmologists I’ve known. But in my years of practice I have also seen misadventures by them as well. One, in particular remains clear in my mind, where an ophthalmologist refused to see a post-surgical vitrectomy patient with a clear case of angle closure glaucoma because they were “done” for the day. I stayed after clinic closing to treat this man and save his vision. Should I classify ophthalmologists for the actions of this one?
It is no more accurate to disparage all optometrists for this case than it is to denigrate all of any group for the actions of a few.