Public Health, Occupational Health and Epidemiology Conference

Optometry is the most important part of any healthcare system: these specialists are mainly focused on eye health and vision care, hence improving quality of life and overall health. Services delivered by critical optometric services include regular eye exams, early detection of eye conditions, and preventive eye care; both support vision health and general well-being. This is why optometrists often, being primary providers of eye care, could identify problems that would ring alarm bells for broader health concerns such as diabetes or hypertension.

Preventive care in optometry is rather a matter of performing routine eye exams to detect among others the most common conditions refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. In optometry, diseases can often be addressed if discovered early on with the initiation of treatment or referrals to specialists. Good vision plays an important role in furthering children's learning and development.

In addition to ensuring that patients have good vision, optometrists contribute to overall health care because many systemic conditions first show signs in the eyes. A number of serious health conditions including diabetes, hypertension, and autoimmune diseases initially present early signs visible in the eyes. When these signs are detected through an eye exam, they can refer patients to other healthcare providers for further evaluation and support early diagnosis and treatment.

It also entails educating a patient on the need to protect their eyes, teaching the proper use of UV protection, and correct screen time habits in an effort to reduce eye strain. It fosters practices that would otherwise prevent common issues of dry eyes and digital eye strain issues most likely to be considered for long-term health care.

Optometrists support vision and general health through eye care, an all-inclusive approach that enables interventions toward improving quality of life and contributing to a more holistic healthcare system.