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Health & Fitness

On Optometry in General

Hello! Welcome to our first post on the latest practices and benefits of optometry. 

Considering that this is our first post, it would be best to open with a very general, simple topic:

What is an optometrist, and what do they do?

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Well, optometrists are licensed, health-care professionals who focus their medical practices around the eye and its composition and functions. More specifically, they inspect, diagnose and treat all sicknesses, disorders or injuries involving a person’s visual system. This can include ailments in other areas of the body which can affect the system as well.

Optometrists also have the ability to prescribe different resources for better health in this area. These include rehab, therapy, custom lenses and medication. They are also capable of performing surgery, though a good optometrist – actually, a great one! – will counsel a patient on alternative practices that can be taken to avoid surgery if possible. This is dependent upon, for example, the demands of their physical person, among other criteria.

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In order to become a doctor of optometry, one must first complete a generally standard, undergraduate program that is offered by a university or college. This is then followed by an additional four years of concentrated education focused only on the practice of optometry itself, which takes place in a centralized school of the same variety, i.e. an optometry school. When these eight years of education are complete, an individual will receive their Doctor of Optometry degree (O.D.)... officially making them an optometrist!

At the moment, optometry is expected to increase hires in the field by over 30% within the next six years. It is a practice that is growing in demand, yet still allows for a healthy yearly income (almost $130K), and a flexible schedule that not many other areas of business can afford. Most importantly, it affords the ability to make a difference in the life of someone who is visually impaired with ease.

For additional questions regarding optometry or about how to become an optometrist, please the American Optometric Association at their website, http://www.aoa.org/?sso=y

See you next month!

The Design for Vision Team

Design for Vision of Jamison/Doylestown can be reached at: (215)-491-2020. 

Design for Vision of Newtown/Richboro can be reached at: (215)-504-2015.

Please visit our website at: www.designforvision.com

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