An optometrist is a licensed professional who has completed at least three years of undergraduate work and a four-year program in an optometry school, culminating in a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree. He or she is concerned about eye health and performs screenings and exams to assist patients in maintaining their vision. An Air Force optometrist performs the same tasks as a civilian OD, but does so while serving in the military, and his or her patients are either service members or members of their immediate families.
Routine eye examinations for all personnel, some of whom are pilots but the majority are not, are one of the most common tasks of an Air Force optometrist. Visual acuity is typically tested, as well as peripheral vision checks and screenings for health issues like glaucoma. If an irregularity is discovered, the Air Force optometrist will either treat the patient or refer them to a specialist. Corrective lenses, which the Air Force optometrist can prescribe, are frequently all that is required.
The doctor also evaluates and treats a variety of eye health issues, such as infections like pink eye and eye injuries. More general health problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, may be detected during screenings, and the Air Force optometrist must be able to recognize these and refer the patient to another physician for treatment. An optometrist can prescribe medication to treat a variety of issues, but surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist, not an optometrist, so cases requiring this level of care are referred to an Air Force ophthalmologist.
An Air Force optometrist must hold an OD from a recognized optometry school in the United States or Canada, as well as a license to practice in the United States or one of its territories. When a doctor joins the military, he or she is promoted to a commissioned officer and receives the appropriate pay and benefits. Before beginning practice as an Air Force optometrist, he or she must complete a five-week program that emphasizes physical health, adjustment to military life, and understanding how the military healthcare system works.
Working as an optometrist in the military is ideal for many optometrists, particularly those fresh out of school. There are no startup costs, capital expenditures, office expenses, or payroll to manage. The Air Force provides all equipment, supplies, support personnel, and patients, so the only thing an Air Force optometrist has to worry about is providing eye care to airmen and their families.