Can An Optometrists Diagnose Eye Problems
Your eyes are a vital part of your body that help you see the things and people around you. Of the five senses, it is considered one of the most often used. This important organ works to take in and process visual images so that the brain can comprehend and gauge the distance of objects. The size of a human eye is equivalent to a ping pong ball. When it comes to eye diseases, there are a few different ones you have to worry about. Below is more information about these diseases, as well as what optometrists can diagnose.
Treatment Options For Eye Disorders
Once the tests are completed, the optometrist will assess the results and make the proper diagnosis. The optometrist will then treat the problem accordingly. If a patient has impaired vision, the doctor will prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses upon the patients request. If a patient suffers from glaucoma, the optometrist is able to prescribe medicated eye drops to treat the condition. Some effective types of eye drops that are used to treat glaucoma are prostaglandins, Beta-blockers, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.
Prostaglandins are once a day eye drops that help relieve pressure in the eyes by relaxing the muscles inside the eyeball. Beta-blocking eye drops help reduce fluid production in the eyes thus, reducing ocular pressure that accumulates inside the eyes. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor eye drops also work like Beta-blocking eye drops and helps lessen fluid production in the eyes. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors used for treating glaucoma also comes in pill form.
If a patient is just developing cataracts, the optometrist will have the patient come in every six months for a checkup. The optometrist will monitor the patients cataracts and keep adjusting their prescription to improve their vision. When the optometrist is no longer able to adjust the prescription to improve the patients vision, they will refer the patient to a highly-qualified ophthalmologist for cataract surgery.
Filed Under: BlogTagged With: Eye Diseases, Optometrists
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Do Eye Infections Need To Be Treated By A Doctor
The majority of eye infections would greatly benefit by getting treatment from a medical professional. However, not every eye infection is a life-threatening emergency that needs to be dealt with immediately.
The eye is a very delicate organ of the human body and needs to be treated as such. Unfortunately, most people do not know how to prevent eye infections or how to treat them, even if the treatment is simple. Going to an eye doctor is a great way to learn proper treatment.
As mentioned before, everyone does not have time to attend an in-person eye appointment and would instead not get treatment other than miss days of work or school.
Having an online appointment gives you the ability to attend everything you want while receiving the best treatment!
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Eye Infections Related To Contact Lenses
1) Fungal keratitis. Fungi can infect the front of the eye and cause severe inflammation of the cornea. Poor contact lens hygiene, or a penetrating eye injury, can cause a fungal infection in the eye.
2) Acanthamoeba keratitis is a vision-threatening eye infection, caused by a parasite that can enter the cornea of the eye through contact lenses.
Here are a few safety tips for contact lens wearers:
- Wash your hands before inserting or removing contact lenses
- Avoid wearing contact lenses in the pool
- Remove and disinfect your lenses according to your doctors instructions
What Do Optometrists Do
The job itself is varied, from conducting eye exams, evaluating vision, and assessing eye conditions to writing prescriptions, recommending further treatments, and providing preoperative and postoperative care.
An optometrist can also specialize in areas such as contact lenses, sports vision, education, and research.
An optometrist may work in many different environments. These include:
- a solo or group private practice
- a community health center, Veterans Affairs medical center, or hospital
- an academic setting
- a retail, optical, or corporate setting
Statistics show that just under 40,000 people held jobs as optometrists in 2019, with a mean annual wage of $122,980.
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Become Familiar With Local Pharmacies
Having a pharmacy to utilize will be needed once your provider decides on a medication. If you are experiencing eye irritation or allergies, there is a good chance that your doctor may prescribe you some over-the-counter medicine to help the infection go away. If it is a bacterial infection, you will be prescribed an antibiotic. Many people don’t know that you can receive an antibiotic via telehealth.
Ask around town to see where people like getting their medicine and prescriptions. If you currently have a pharmacy that you are not a fan of, now is an excellent time to find a new one.
How Can An Eye Doctor Help
The optometrist has the equipment, as well as the knowledge, to diagnose eye infections and provide treatment for the infection. They can also guide good eye health and how to keep the infection from returning. Furthermore, the eye doctor can determine if the infection is a symptom of a more serious condition that needs to be addressed.
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Pain In The Back Of The Eye
Glaucoma is a major cause of blindness. It is characterized by pain in the back of the eye caused by elevated pressure from the liquid inside the eyeball. When the pain is accompanied by patchy vision, it can be a red flag that treatment is needed. Severe headache and tunnel vision are generally present in advanced cases.
Pink Eye: Family Doctor Vs Optometrist
Regardless of which medical professional you see, its crucial to have your pink eye assessed. Your family doctor can offer medical advice and treatment for conjunctivitis. But so can your optometrist. Many medical professionals are knowledgeable about eye anatomy and health, but optometrists have more specific knowledge.
An optometrist can evaluate the ocular surface and eye structures to determine the type of conjunctivitis and its effects on your eye health. Seeing your optometrist for a diagnosis and follow-up can also help prevent long-term effects on vision and eye health.
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How An Optometrist Treats Eye Infections
When an optometrist treats an eye infection, theyll start by prescribing antibiotic drops that are designed to fight off the bacteria causing the infection. Theyll also prescribe a lubricant that will help keep your eyes moist so they dont get dry or irritated.
If your infection is severe enough, your doctor may even recommend surgery to remove scar tissue from around your cornea or conjunctiva .
If you have more questions or wish to schedule a checkup, feel free to call our Lake Stevens, WA optometry office anytime!
Prevention Of Eye Infections
As is the case with many types of infections, prevention is the best form of cure. If you notice that someone has red swollen eyes, you can avoid catching whatever they have by minimizing contact with the person and using good hygiene practices.
Good hygiene goes a long way. If you wear contacts, you should always wash your hands before touching them. Do not share items that will touch your eyeball with other people. Sleeping with contact lenses in increases the risk for eye inflections, even if they are approved for overnight wear.
Always keep the towels in your bathroom clean, and change your bedding weekly. This reduces the likelihood of bacteria that can lead to eye infections.
References
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Know How And When To Treat An Eye Infection
Its that time of year againcoughs, sneezing, running noses and itchy, red eyes. How do you know when an eye irritation is something that needs medical attention?
First of all, any time an eye infection is accompanied by fever, excessive discharge or pain, you should see your eye doctor immediately.
The eyes are sensitive and there could be a number of factors that contribute to discomfort and irritation, some of which require medication. There are also some types of eye infections that are very contagious, which you want to treat as soon as possible.
When To See A Doctor
See a doctor if your symptoms intensify or do not clear within a day or two. If you have a bacterial infection, you will need a prescription for antibiotics, which can kill the bacteria or stop it from multiplying. Antibiotics will not work for viral infections.
Instead, the symptoms of the virus are usually treated directly. There are some antiviral medicines that can stop the virus from reproducing. Certain vaccines can prevent viral infections from occurring in the first place, such as the vaccine for influenza.
Many of the common bacterial infections of the eye will readily clear up once you are prescribed an antibiotic or some other treatment like eye drops. Youll generally experience improved symptoms within a day or two of starting antibiotics, but you should finish the full course regardless of improvement.
Some of the more common viral eye infections may resolve on their own, but they may require antiviral eye drops or even steroids to reduce inflammation.
Without treatment, eye infections will usually clear within one to two weeks. If your symptoms worsen, see an eye doctor promptly.
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People With Emergency Eye Problems Can Be Seen Quicker In Person
Eye infections are issues that can require medical attention to an extent, but people may be experiencing other problems that require urgent and immediate care. Not all eye infections call for an emergency visit.
The online treatment leaves more seats in the waiting room open to evaluating eye emergencies faster. In addition, telehealth allows patients to be helped much quicker, both in-person and online, which gives you extra opportunities to find an appointment time that works for you.
Online eye appointments also reduce the chances for a patient not to show up and waste the time of doctors and other patients.
Write Out Your Symptoms
This tip may seem silly, but it can be helpful at the moment. It is easy to forget what is going on if you are experiencing technical troubles or even nervousness from trying something new.
Before you take the doctor’s phone call or see them over video chat, write down everything you have been experiencing that you can relate to your eye infection. This will be helpful for both you and the medical professional assessing you.
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Not All Eye Infections Are Equal
Your optometrist will evaluate your symptoms and perform a thorough eye exam to diagnose whether or not you have an eye infection. Theres a range of different eye infections that you can get, some of which qualify as eye emergencies. For example:
- Pink eye/conjunctivitis this infection typically tints your eyes a pink color. It can be caused by a virus or bacteria, and sometimes you can get it from irritants or an allergic reaction. When it results from bacteria, youll need antibiotic eye drops or ointment for treatment.
- Keratitis an inflammation of the cornea that occurs most commonly in people who wear contact lenses. It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites in water and it can be dangerous when left untreated.
- Stye often appears as painful red bumps at the base of your eyelashes or under your eyelid. Styes usually happen when the oil glands in your eyelid get infected with bacteria.
- Fungal eye infections while rare, these type of eye infections are dangerous and must be treated as eye emergencies. Fungal eye infections tend to occur after an injury, especially if you got a scratch in your eye from a plant.
- Uveitis this inflammation of the middle layer of your eye can result from certain viruses, but it is more typically linked to autoimmune disorders.
Will The Doctor Prescribe Medicine To Me
Any medicine you may need will be prescribed to you by the eye doctor and picked up at your usual or local pharmacy. Just like the question above, the costs will be filed through your insurance or the patient portal.
You are not always prescribed medicine. Instead, it is based upon the doctor’s knowledge and what they feel is the best treatment for your eye infection. Treatment can range from a warm washcloth on your eye to over-the-counter eye drops.
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Dont Wait To Get Your Eyes Checked See An Eye Doctor At Optometrists Clinic Today
It is important to visit an optometrist in Edmonton for an eye exam if you think you might have an eye infection. You can trust Optometristsâ Clinic to provide you with the prompt care and attention you deserve. We have proudly been serving the Edmonton area for over 80 years, and we offer an after-hours, on-call service in case of emergencies.If you have an eye infection or you are experiencing any other vision or eye health problems, donât hesitate to contact Optometristsâ Clinic for an appointment with an Edmonton eye doctor.
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How To Choose The Eye Doctor You Need
Ultimately, which doctor you see depends on the level of care you need.
Visit your optometrist for general eye care and eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions,
Visit your medical optometrist for primary medical eye care, including eye medication prescriptions, monitoring and managing eye diseases, or emergency eye care services.
Visit an ophthalmologist for interventions like surgical treatments for serious eye diseases, advanced ocular problems, or refractive eye surgery. In most cases, you wont need to find an ophthalmologist on your own: your optometrist can refer you to someone experienced and trustworthy.
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What Is An Ophthalmologist And What Eye Condition Can He Or She Treat
An ophthalmologist specializes in providing vision and eye care. However, the professional working in this field of medicine is trained to perform eye surgery, diagnose and treat diseases of the eye after careful examination, and write prescriptions for vision care appliances such as contacts and eyewear.
When To Contact Your Eye Doctor
Contact an eye doctor if you are experiencing symptoms of an eye infection. Many eye infections can be treated quickly with medical care, but it is always best to obtain a proper diagnosis as early as possible.
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The earlier an infection is treated, the sooner you will begin to feel better.
Seek emergency medical attention if symptoms are severe any eye pain or loss of vision requires immediate care.
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A Guide To Online Medical Provider Eye Infection Treatment
Online doctor appointments to treat eye infections are something that many people are unaware of. I decided to guide online eye infection treatments so people can have a better understanding of how it works.
If you have an eye infection, you can call a telehealth service that supports optometry in your area. You will schedule your appointment with an online medical provider and then begin a phone call or video chat about treatment for your eye infection.
Telehealth is an easy and convenient way to get professional care while in the comfort of your own home. If you consider using online doctors to treat an eye infection, you will want to read more about the process.
When Should You See An Optometrist
You can see your optometrist for most of your routine eye care needs. In fact, you should see them for a routine eye checkup every year or so just to make sure your eyesight is optimized and your eyes are healthy. Many eye diseases develop with no symptoms, so an eye exam is vital for monitoring your eyes in general.
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How Can You Prevent An Eye Infection
To prevent an eye infection, try to avoid touching your eyes as much as possible. Wash your hands throughout the day, especially before touching your eyes. If your child wears contact lenses, educate them on the importance of washing their hands before inserting or removing their lenses.
In addition, wash towels and bedding frequently, and disinfect counter tops and door handles on a regular basis.
Common Eye Infections When To Consult An Optometrist
Conjunctivitis or pink eye is when the clear layer that covers the white part of your eye becomes infected. It can occur in only one eye, both eyes, or start with one eye and spread to the other eye. Conjunctivitis can be caused by viral, bacterial or fungal agents. Symptoms include redness, itchiness, teary eyes, light sensitivity and ocular irritation . Conjunctivitis usually resolves within a few days and can be treated with self-medication. Anti-histamine eye drops will help treat the symptoms of itchy eyes. Anti-bacterial ointment will help with symptoms of ocular discomfort. If, however, the condition does not improve, seek help from your optometrist.
Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids. The eyelids cover and protect your eyes. You may experience scratchy, red, dry eyes with slightly swollen, red, irritated eyelids. In severe cases the eyelashes stick together and vision may even be affected. Blepharitis has many causes. It can be caused by a bacterial infection, malfunction of the oil glands in the eyelids, dandruff, or even mites or lice. It is best treated by a combination of tear lubricant, anti-bacterial ointment and good hygiene. Consult your optometrist for proper treatment of this infection, especially if it is recurrent.
Keratitis is inflammation of the clear layer that covers the coloured part of your eye . Corneal infections are usually painful.
Minimise the occurrence
A stye presents as a raised red bump on or under the eyelid.
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