Types of Eye Care Specialists and the Tools They Use

Types of Eye Care Specialists and the Tools They Use

Types of Eye Care Professionals • Ophthalmologist • MD • Prescribes medication • Performs surgery • Optometrist • OD • 4 years of post bachelor’s optometry school

Optician • Technician • Makes and repairs glasses and contact lenses

The Exam • Medical history • Visual acuity • Refraction • External examination • Pupillary testing • Examination of anterior structures • Examination of posterior structures

Visual acuity testing • Charts • 20 foot Snellens • 10 foot HOTV • Preferential looking • Optikenetic drum or charts

Refraction • Process for determining appropriate prescription for lenses. • Three options: • Subjective refraction (“Which one looks better 1 or 2?”) • Retinoscopy (neutralization of light shined into the eye through lenses

Computerized retinoscopy • Computer shoots a beam of light into the eye and measures its reflection back to the source

External Examination • Appearance and symmetry of the face • Skin of the eyelids • Edges of the lids and lashes • Clarity of the cornea, irises, and pupils • Color, texture, and moisture of the conjunctiva • Position, movement, and coordination of the eyes

Pupillary Testing • Light shined directly into the pupils to check for • Reaction in each eye • Consensual responses

Tonometer Checking intraocular pressure

Examination of Posterior Structures • Retinoscope • Used to examine” • Viterous • Retina • Optic disc

Slit Lamp • Used primarily to examine the anterior chamber and structures, but may also be used for viterous and retina as well.

Types of Eye Care Specialists and the Tools They Use