The Scope of Optometry

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The Scope of Optometry

The practice of Optometry is the examination, diagnosis, measurement

and treatment of the ocular health of the human eye and includes, but

is not limited to:

• the examination of the human eye by any method, other than surgery,

to diagnose and to treat or to refer for consultation or treatment any

abnormal condition of the eye and adnexa and to co-manage along with

physicians and other professionals the ocular well-being of the

patient;

• the employment of instruments, devices, test lenses, or any

refractive procedures, automated or otherwise, pharmaceutical agents

and procedures intended for the investigating, measuring, examining,

treating, diagnosing or correcting of visual defects or abnormal

conditions of the human eye or its adnexa as may be authorized by the

provincial licensing authority;

• the prescribing of pharmaceutical agents, corrective lenses, devices

containing lenses, prisms, contact lenses, orthoptics, vision therapy,

and prosthetic devices to correct, relieve or treat defects or

conditions of the human eye or its adnexa;

• the fitting and application of lenses, devices containing lenses,

prisms, contact lenses, pharmaceutical agents and prosthetic devices

intended to be placed directly upon or in contact with the tissues of

the human eye or adnexa;

• the prescription, supervision and management of regimes of therapy

for the improvement or monitoring of the visual health or function of

patients;

• the diagnosis and treatment of the occupational and sports vision

needs of patients.

Optometrists are primary health care providers who diagnose and treat

ocular heal...

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associated structures. Optometrists, as primary health care

practitioners, are trained to take an active role in the management of

vision and eye health problems. Co-management with the primary care

physician will allow early diagnosis, treatment, or stabilization of

patients. Secondary care can then be obtained as required.

The role of today’s optometrists has expanded to include a wide range

of services which include but are not limited to the following areas:

spectacle therapy, contact lenses, children’s vision, geriatric

vision, low vision, occupational vision, binocular vision, sports

vision, anterior segment eye disease and follow up care for laser

refractive eye surgery. As new technologies emerge in the field of

vision and eye health care, Optometry will continue to keep pace with

new developments.

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