Optometrist skills for your resume and career

Patients are individuals who receive medical care from an optometrist. Optometrists use patients by providing personalized care, such as administering visual field tests, managing post-operative care, and diagnosing and treating various eye diseases. They also advise patients on the selection of frames, lenses, and contact lenses suitable for their visual requirements and comfort.

Patient care is the process of providing medical assistance to individuals. Optometrists use patient care by overseeing various aspects of their business, including personnel and insurance claims. They also develop practice protocols to improve patient care, insurance billing, and electronic medical records. They work closely with team members to improve patient care and provide extensive technical support in all phases of patient care and management. They also assist doctors in all forms of patient care, document patient care online, and provide full service optometric patient care including disease screenings, vision exams, and follow-up treatment.

Diagnosis is the process of identifying a disease or condition. Optometrists use diagnosis to determine the cause of a patient's vision problems. They perform tests and examinations to detect conditions like ocular pathology and systemic diseases. They also use diagnosis to decide on the appropriate treatment, including prescribing therapeutic agents or referring patients to other healthcare professionals.

Customer service is the act of helping and supporting people who use a company's products or services. Optometrists use customer service by providing accurate vision care, answering phones, scheduling eye exams, and handling patient interactions. They also use customer service skills to resolve patient issues and deliver consistent support in a friendly manner.

Diagnostic tests are used to identify and diagnose eye problems or diseases. Optometrists use these tests to examine patients' eyes, identify refractive errors, and detect conditions like glaucoma. They perform tasks such as taking patient history, prepping examination rooms, and conducting various pre-diagnostic tests like refraction, eye muscle and pupillary evaluation, tonometry, and keratometry.

Visual acuity is the ability to see objects clearly. Optometrists use visual acuity to determine a patient's ability to see and understand the world around them. They do this by performing tests, such as checking near and far vision, color vision, and depth perception. These tests help them develop a proper eye care treatment plan for their patients.

Medical history is the record of a patient's past medical conditions, treatments, and allergies. Optometrists use medical history to understand their patients' overall health before conducting an exam. They gather this information, update it electronically, and use it to inform their examination. It's a vital step in delivering quality care.

OCT, or optical coherence tomography, is a non-invasive imaging test that uses light waves to take cross-sectional pictures of the retina. Optometrists use OCT to analyze the layers of the retina and optic nerve. They perform tests to assess visual acuity, color vision, visual fields, eye pressure, dilation, and OCT. This helps them detect and diagnose conditions like glaucoma and retinal diseases.

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve. Optometrists use glaucoma testing in their work to diagnose and manage this condition. They perform tasks such as preliminary glaucoma exams, diagnosing glaucoma and other eye diseases, managing common diseases like glaucoma, and co-managing patients with glaucoma specialists.

Exam rooms are areas where optometrists conduct eye exams and related procedures. Optometrists use exam rooms to perform preliminary testing, set up patients, and prepare necessary equipment and supplies. They also assist the doctor during the exam, answer phones, and adjust and prepare glasses. For example, one optometrist's job involves "conducting preliminary testing prior to the exam and preparing the exam room for the Optometrist."

Safety factors are considerations that help prevent harm or danger. Optometrists use safety factors when educating and counseling patients about ocular hygiene and lighting arrangements. This includes advising on ways to protect the eyes from injury and promoting safe habits in daily life.

Macular degeneration is a medical condition that affects the retina, leading to vision loss in the center of the visual field. Optometrists use macular degeneration in their job by collaborating with ophthalmologists to provide post-management for patients with age-related macular degeneration after treatments like lucentis injections.

Vision aids are tools used to correct or improve vision. Optometrists use these aids by prescribing, supplying, fitting, and adjusting them for their patients. They include eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other devices designed to correct vision. For example, an optometrist might prescribe glasses to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness, or fit a patient with contact lenses to address astigmatism.

Rehabilitation is the process of helping patients recover from injuries or illnesses. Optometrists use rehabilitation by treating patients with low vision, managing low vision rehabilitation services, and providing vision therapy exercises. They also prescribe, fit, and adjust contact lenses.