Editing Optometry (section)

===North America===
[[File:Optometry helps keep focus on the mission 150707-F-IT851-012.jpg|thumb|upright|A technician at [[Aviano Air Base]] Optometry Clinic measures the intraocular pressure of a patient with a handheld tonometer, July 7, 2015.]]

====Canada====
===== Training =====
In Canada, Doctors of Optometry typically complete four years of undergraduate studies followed by four to five years of optometry studies, accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education. There are two such schools of optometry located in Canada — the [[University of Waterloo]] and the [[Université de Montreal]]. Canada also recognizes degrees from the twenty US schools.

===== Licensing =====
In Canada, Doctors of Optometry must write national written and practical board exams. Additionally, optometrists are required to become licensed in the province in which they wish to practice. Regulation of professions is within [[Section 92(13) of the Constitution Act, 1867|provincial jurisdiction]]. Therefore, regulation of optometry is unique to individual provinces and territories. In Ontario, optometrists are licensed by the College of Optometrists of Ontario.

===== Representation =====
In Canada, the profession is represented by the [[Canadian Association of Optometrists]].  In the province of Ontario, the Ontario Association of Optometrists is the designated representative of optometrists to the provincial government.

===== Scope of Practice =====
Optometrists in Canada are trained and licensed to be primary eye care providers. They provide optical and medical eye care. They are able to diagnose and treat most eye diseases and can prescribe both topical and oral medications.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://opto.ca/sites/default/files/resources/documents/optometry_scope_across_canada_grid_january_2016_0.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410083022/https://opto.ca/sites/default/files/resources/documents/optometry_scope_across_canada_grid_january_2016_0.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-04-10 |title=Optometic scope of practice across Canada |publisher=Canadian Association of Optometrists |date=January 2016 |access-date=17 March 2016 }}</ref> They can also undertake further qualifications in order to perform some surgical procedures.

====United States====
Optometrists, Doctors of Optometry, or Optometric Physicians are primary eye care providers. They provide comprehensive optical and medical eye care. They are trained and licensed to practice medicine for eye related conditions - prescribe topical medications (prescription eye drops), oral medications as well as administer diagnostic agents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aoa.org/Images/oral.gif|title=We're sorry.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514055951/https://www.aoa.org/Images/oral.gif|archive-date=14 May 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oglethorpe.edu/faculty/~d_schadler/optometry.htm|title=Oglethorpe University 2012|access-date=28 April 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513081007/http://www.oglethorpe.edu/faculty/~d_schadler/optometry.htm|archive-date=13 May 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ucop.edu/hss/documents/optometry.pdf University of California 2004] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513080836/http://www.ucop.edu/hss/documents/optometry.pdf |date=13 May 2012 }} (page 3)</ref> In some states, optometrists may also be licensed to perform certain types of [[eye surgery]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionmonday.com/latest-news/article/louisiana-governor-jindal-signs-law-permitting-optometrists-to-perform-certain-surgeries-1/|title=Louisiana Governor Jindal Signs Law Permitting Optometrists to Perform Certain Surgeries|date=June 4, 2014|website=Vision Monday|access-date=24 October 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===== Scope of practice =====
Optometrists provide optical and medical eye care. They prescribe corrective lenses to aid refractive errors (e.g. myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, double vision). They manage vision development in children including amblyopia diagnosis/treatment. Some perform vision therapy. They are trained to diagnose and manage any eye disease and their associations with systemic health. Optometrists are trained and licensed to practice medicine for eye-related conditions (including bacterial/viral infections, inflammation, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy). They can prescribe all topical medications (eye drops) and most oral medications (taken by mouth), including scheduled controlled substances. They may also remove ocular foreign bodies and order blood panels or imaging studies such as CT or MRI. Optometrists do not perform invasive surgery, however In Oklahoma and Louisiana, Optometrists may perform superficial surgeries within the anterior segment of the eye. Legislation permits Optometrists in Oklahoma and Kentucky to perform certain laser procedures.

Within their scope of practice optometrists are considered physicians and bill medical insurance plans accordingly.

Optometrists in the United States are regulated by state boards, which vary from state to state.

The Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) assists these state board licensing agencies in regulating the practice of optometry.

===== Licensing =====
Optometrists must complete all course work and graduate from an accredited College of Optometry. This includes passage of all parts of the national board examinations as well as local jurisprudence examinations, which vary by state.

===== Education and Training =====
Optometrists typically complete four years of undergraduate studies followed by four years of Optometry school. Some complete a 5th year of training. Their program is highly specific to the eyes and related structures. Optometrists receive their medical eye training while enrolled in Optometry school and during internships. Training may take place in colleges of Optometry, hospitals, clinics and private practices. In many instances Optometry students and Ophthalmology residents will co-manage medical cases. Instructors may be Optometrists, professors or physicians. The program includes extensive classroom and clinical training in geometric, physical, physiological and ophthalmic optics, specialty contact lens evaluation, general anatomy, ocular anatomy, ocular disease, pharmacology, ocular pharmacology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of the visual system, pediatric visual development, gerontology, binocular vision, color vision, form, space, movement and vision perception, systemic disease, histology, microbiology, sensory and perceptual psychology, biochemistry, statistics and epidemiology.

Optometrists are required to obtain continuing education credit hours to maintain licensure - number of hours varies by state.

Optometrists prescribing schedule controlled substances are required to renew their DEA license every few years.