What Role does an Optometrist Play in the Minds of Health Professionals?

Background: This research paper attempts to answer the question: To whom do medical
health professionals, working in various clinical settings, refer eye related diseases,
injuries, and other visual problems? Methods: A survey will be given to a number of
health professionals. Health professionals that will be surveyed include: primary care
physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. An eight-question survey was
conducted online and shared via social media and word of mouth. The questions and
answers were prewritten and multiple-choice responses were provided, except for one last
free response question. The questions contained an eye-related diagnosis or patient
complaint, and then asked the health provider to select the medical professional that they
would refer their patient to. The possible referral source answers include:
ophthalmologist, primary care physician, pediatrician, optician, or optometrist. At the end
of the survey, the surveyor received an explanation of optometry and the full scope at
which optometry can practice in the United States. Results: The majority of health
providers selected ophthalmologists as their first choice referral for eye related issues.
The only scenario in which optometrists received equal referrals with ophthalmologists
was when a healthy patient complained of blurry vision. Conclusions: Our clinical goal
for conducting this study is to make the medical community aware of the visual and
medical healthcare that optometry is capable of providing to patients. If more medical
professionals understand what optometry offers, optometry may begin receiving more
referrals from other medical health professionals.