May:

• examine eyes
• measure visual acuity and visual fields
• provide vision therapy (e.g. eye muscle coordination exercises)
• prescribe corrective lenses (e.g. glasses, contacts, other optical aids)

Must:

• refer a patient to an ophthalmologist or other physician when medical intervention is indicated

Cannot:

• prescribe drugs
• perform surgery or laser surgery

Therapeutic Optometrist: holds additional license having completed Optometrist supplemental academic and clinical courses in pharmacology and related pathology.

May:

• provide all services of an Optometrist or Therapeutic Optometrist, plus
• prescribe topical pharmaceutical agents (other than antiviral and glaucoma agents) for the purpose of diagnosing and treating visual defects, abnormal conditions, and diseases of the anterior chamber and ocular adnexa
• may remove superficial matter and eyelashes from the external eye or adnexa

If use of topical steroids of strength of 1% concentration do not substantially improve a condition within seven days, ophthalmological consultation and medical treatment regimen is required.

Cannot:

• prescribe drugs classified as controlled substances
• perform surgery or laser surgery

Ophthalmologist: A state licensed Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) who specializes in diagnosis, treatment and surgery for diseases of the eye.

May provide all services of an Optometrist or Therapeutic Optometrist, plus:

• diagnose and treat medical eye diseases
• perform surgery, laser surgery, and provide related care
• prescribe any and all drugs

Acknowledged Sources: Information gleaned mainly from two sources:

1. Eye Medical Training Manual of the Texas Commission for the Blind
2. The American Foundation for the Blind's "Low Vision Questions and Answers"

TERMINOLOGY COMMONLY USED IN EYE REPORTS:

OS: left eye

OD: right eye

OU: both eyes

LP: light perception

CF: counts fingers (connotes ability to distinguish objects as distinctive entities, as opposed to only being able to distinguish shadows, colors, etc.)