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Apr 01, 2018 Dr Karen Persram, Features / Columnists
You would go to an optometrist. The optometrist is trained to diagnose and treat vision conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism , and presbyopia. They check to see if the eyes are straight and not turned or crossed, and if you have normal colour vision. They also check to see if you have eye diseases like cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, ptyrigium (what guyanese call growing flesh) , etc. Optometrists prescribe eyeglasses, contact lenses, eye exercises, and medications to treat eye diseases.
The optometrist usually goes through a 4 year University program. In North America ( Canada and the USA), the optometrist requires a BSc ( Bachelor of Science) degree before the OD ( Doctor of Optometry) degree. The optometry and medicine program are very similar for the first 2 years. Both cover General Pathology ( the study of diseases), Pharmacology ( the study of drugs/medicines) , Genetics , Neurology, Anatomy and Microbiology. The final two years of the optometry programme are spent specializing on the eye.
In the early days both the person who did the eye testing and the person who made up the spectacles were called opticians. However, this has changed and nowadays the doctor who checks the eyes is called an optometrist and the person who makes up the glasses is called an optician.
I HAVE A CATARACT. TO WHOM DO I GO TO GET IT OPERATED ON?
You would go to an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist is trained to do surgical and medical treatment of eye diseases. They remove cataracts and insert intraocular lenses, do medical treatment for glaucoma as well as glaucoma filtering surgeries, remove ptyrigium ( growing flesh), and do laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy.
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who has done a 4 yr. medicine degree (MD) and then did additional training specializing in diseases and surgery of the eye.
MY GLASSES ARE BROKEN. TO WHOM DO I GO TO GET THEM FIXED?
You would go to an optican/optical technician. Opticians in Guyana learn through apprenticeship, but in other countries they usually go through a one or two-year college programme. The optician/technician is trained about the different kinds of spectacle lenses and how to adjust and repair spectacles.
They are trained to grind lenses to the correct power, and to fit lenses to the frames. If trained to do so, opticians can dispense contact lenses from a doctor’s prescription . Opticians use prescriptions supplied by ophthalmologists or optometrists, but do not test vision or write prescriptions for visual correction.
Keeping your eyes healthy is important. The different practitioners in the eye care field work together to keep your vision intact and your eyes healthy. Check your eyes yearly.
For more information , or if you wish to suggest a question, please contact Dr. Karen Persram at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown. Tel: 225-0605 or send emails to [email protected]
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