Optometrists are trained and experienced professionals who can accurately diagnose eye infections and provide guidance if the results show signs of an eye disease or condition. They are licensed as doctors of optometry and can examine your eyes and diagnose any health or vision problems. During the eye exam, optometrists may need to use eye drops. The main types of eye drops that optometrists use during consultations are explained below.
Eye infections are one common type of eye problem that optometrists help with. Optometrists can diagnose the type of infection and recommend treatment, including prescribing medications when needed. Your optometrist's office may have one or two DOs that care for patients, as well as a friendly team of eye care technicians. The optometrist will examine your eyes and prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses, while the technicians will help you place them.
Some optometry offices also have their own laboratory, which is like an optical pharmacy. An optician will lead the laboratory and fill your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses, as well as any prescriptions for eye drops or other optical medications. Optometrists can also treat dry eyes, sometimes referred to as keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Local anesthetics allow the optometrist to measure eye pressure or remove a foreign body painlessly by numbing the surface of the eye.
Clogged sebaceous glands often cause Meibomian gland (DGD) dysfunction, leading to dry eyes. Endophthalmitis is a serious inflammation of the fluids inside the eye caused by a bacterial or fungal infection, and glaucoma therapies aim to reduce pressure inside the eye to prevent damage to the optic nerve. In Georgia, optometrists can prescribe class II to class V medications for the treatment of eye diseases. An optometrist should examine a large stye or one located under the eyelid and recommend further treatment, such as antibiotic ointment.
Symptoms of anterior uveitis are usually redness of the eye (usually around the eye), pain inside the eye, and extreme sensitivity to light. For those who simply aren't willing to take medications, there are some natural eye allergy remedies that can help.
