What are optometrists allowed to do while practicing in California?

[student2008]

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I'm just wondering if any of the ODs on this forum can help me out with this question. What are optometrists allowed to do while practicing in California? What do you think will happen to the scope of optometry in 10 years?

Thanks a lot!

 

[362.04]

I'm just wondering if any of the ODs on this forum can help me out with this question. What are optometrists allowed to do while practicing in California? What do you think will happen to the scope of optometry in 10 years?

Thanks a lot!

Broad question. Could you rephrase or focus your question?

 

[student2008]

Sorry for being unclear, I meant what is the scope of practice here in California. I know that here Optometrists are allowed to manage Glaucoma patients, what else are optometrists able to do?

 

[362.04]

Sorry for being unclear, I meant what is the scope of practice here in California. I know that here Optometrists are allowed to manage Glaucoma patients, what else are optometrists able to do?

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[student2008]

awesome resource! great appreciate your help!

 

[Richard_Hom]

Dear Student 2008,

There is a wide breadth of practice of optometry. Some will be very conservative in treating disease and prefer to concentrate on "well eye" examinations, glasses, and contacts. Others will practice to the limit of their scope of their practice (and beyond if in the right surroundings). You will find much variety when you prospect or talk with practitioners state wide.

Richard Hom OD FAAO

 

[IndianaOD]

Dear Student 2008,

There is a wide breadth of practice of optometry. Some will be very conservative in treating disease and prefer to concentrate on "well eye" examinations, glasses, and contacts. Others will practice to the limit of their scope of their practice (and beyond if in the right surroundings). You will find much variety when you prospect or talk with practitioners state wide.

Richard Hom OD FAAO

I agree.

Though you will have to be careful if you really have a desire to say..treat glaucoma. There aren't too many states left that are problems but several still make you jump through hoops and get "permission" from OMDs or other nonsense.

My preference is treat what you are comfortable with (which should be full scope after graduating), refer to ODs when you can and only refer to Ophthalmology when the patient actually needs something cut.