Optometry Profession

• Premedical training same as MD or any other pre-doctoral medical profession plus emphasis on more physics and statistics courses

• Four years premed/four yrs optometry college

• Houston and San Antonio have the schools for O.D. degree. Residency Not required by can specialize

O.D. Specialties

• Contact lenses• Geriatric• Therapeutic• Pediatric• Sports• Good retail opportunities for entrepreneurs!!!• Most states have ONE O.D. school• Competitive/Incomes always over six figures

Disorders of the Eye: Cataracts

• http:///Cataract2.239

Causes/Symptoms of Cataracts

• Sunlight exposure• Radiation exposure• Eye injury• Age, age. Most people over 75 have cataracts• Symptoms include: poor night vision,

narrowed/tunnel vision/loss of peripheral vision, frequent Rx changes for glasses

• Use sunglasses, don’t get old, may require lens Sx with replacement plastic, in-office Sx/topical anesthesia

Slit lamp examination Dx Cataracts. Dilate eyes first

Cataract Sx/opthamologists only

Glaucoma

• Gradual increase in intra-ocular pressure of fluid inside eye

• No symptoms• Gradual blindness from pressure on retina and

optic nerve• Treatment; eye drops and possible laser

surgery to open drains of eyes

Testing for glaucoma is called “tonometry”/puff of air

Myopia (nearsightedness)

myopia

• Most common eye disorder/eyeball too short• See things near clearly but not road signs far

off• Lens/cornea bends light too much causing

focal point IN FRONT OF RETINA• Tx: refractive lenses, lasik sx, corrective

contact lenses than bend curvature of eye at night

Hyperopia

hyperopia

• Eyeball too short• Images focus BEHIND retina• Farsigtedness• Lenses, lasik surgery• ¼ of US population has this