By Zack Steele
I am often asked the difference between the specialties of eye care. What is an optometrist? What is an ophthalmologist? What is the difference? I even get asked occasionally if a patient can see an optician for an eye exam (Carol and Tessa, my opticians, might get a good laugh from that one).
Through the years, optometry and ophthalmology have evolved into a symbiotic relationship in which the two professions work together to benefit their patients. The role of the optometrist has changed greatly over the last 50 years, mainly due to necessity. The demand for eye care as more and more patients sought it out created a gap between the amount of doctors and the amount of patients in many states, including Alabama. About 30 years ago, Alabama created an optometry school at UAB to help meet the demand for eye care
Optometrists treat eye diseases like glaucoma, dry eye syndrome and pink eye. We also, of course, find and determine eyeglass and contact lens pr Zack Steele is a 2003 graduate of UAB School of Optometry. His practice, Trussville Vision Care, is located on Chalkville Road in downtown Trussville.