If you look up the meaning of
Optometry in the internet, the
definition would be “the practice
or profession of examining the eyes
for visual defects and prescribing
corrective lenses”. Sounds simple
enough right? Not anymore.
Optometry has evolved into a
multidisciplinary practice. Gone
are the days when optometrists
were merely perceived as salespersons of frames and
lenses. Optometrists have emerged as your primary eye care
practitioners responsible for your overall visual health.

In today’s
practice, optometry
has branched
out into different
areas of expertise,
one merely has
to choose which
field one wants to
specialize in. The
different fields of
optometry include
Low Vision and Rehabilitation; an area of optometry which
caters to the visual needs of patients mostly with very poor
vision to aid them in their tasks of daily living; usually but not
specifically exclusive to the geriatric population. Another area
is Binocular Vision and Orthoptics, involving the treatment
and therapy of patients with eye muscle problems, focusing
difficulties, double vision, patients with squint, dyslexia, which
can be present in both adults and children. Another area
that’s generating a lot of interest is Contact Lens Fitting and
Dispensing.

With contact
lenses becoming
a major fashion
accessory for the youth
and “fashionistas”, it
not only gives patients
the option of not
wearing prescription
glasses, it also can complete a look desired to match your
appearance and mood. With eye products rampant in the
market, it is important to note however that proper prescription,
measurement ,fitting of contact lenses, and proper instructions
should be given to each patient by a licensed optometrist, to
ensure optimum ocular health. Another area worth mentioning
is Industrial and Occupational Optometry , catering to the
visual needs of patients specifically for the workplace to
ensure maximum work performance with no accompanying
visual stress and fatigue. Ocular Prosthesis is a field which also
helps patients achieve an increase in self esteem by cosmetically
enhancing their look to achieve a sense of normalcy. All these fields
can be learned as an add on to the general practice of Optometry
through further studies on the specific area of choice.

As time and technology continues to improve, Optometry
surely will follow. The future is uncertain, what is known now is that
it will only continue to get better. So cheers to the future ahead,
Cheers to Optometry!