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Eye Care Providers (cont.)

Optometrists

Optometrists are eye care providers who have attended college and completed 4 years of training at an optometry school but have not attended a medical school. In optometry school, they are educated mainly on the eyes and do not receive a comprehensive education regarding the rest of the body and other systemic disease processes. Optometrists receive a doctor of optometry (OD) degree.
 
Optometrists are licensed by the state to practice optometry. They can perform an eye examination and can determine the presence of vision-related problems. They can also prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses. Depending on the state in which you live, optometrists may be allowed to treat less complicated eye diseases, but they are not trained to perform surgery. 



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