Find an eye doctor in British Columbia
Our Find-an-Eye-Doctor tool gives you contact information for Doctors of Optometry in your area.
Children's Eye Health Resources
Eye Health Library
Your doctor of optometry has a wide scope of expertise. The Eye Health Library provides a quick reference for many common eye-related conditions and questions. For certainty, see your Doctor of Optometry.
Looking After Eye Health – Preschoolers
How can I help my child? Between ages one and two, it’s important for a child to develop good hand-eye coordination and depth perception. There ...
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Eye Exam vs Sight Test
In some provinces, a number of optical stores offer sight tests, or vision tests, which use automated machinery. However, a sight test is not a ...
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Colour Deficiency
What is colour deficiency? Colour deficiency occurs when your ability to distinguish colours and shades is different from normal. Colour deficiency is more common in ...
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What is a Doctor of Optometry?
When it comes to vision and eye health, the primary healthcare provider is your doctor of optometry.
Doctors of optometry (optometrists) are healthcare professionals who provide primary vision care to determine the overall health of your eyes and the quality of your vision. A doctor of optometry is educated, clinically trained and licensed to deliver the best standard of comprehensive primary eye care. Doctors of optometry are clinically trained to examine and treat the eyes and visual system of any patient.
A doctor of optometry has:
- A Bachelor of Science degree or higher.
- A four year doctor of optometry degree from an accredited university’s school of optometry.
What can a Doctor of Optometry do?
- Provide an eye exam to examine, assess, measure and diagnose disorders and diseases within the human eye and visual system, such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration.
- Recognize and co-manage related systemic conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and brain tumors.
- Fit and dispense eyewear, including glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, safety eyewear and low-vision aids to ensure they meet your vision and eye health needs.
- Most can prescribe certain medications.
- Remove foreign bodies from the eye.
- Provide referrals to secondary specialists, such as ophthalmologists, for treatment of systemic disease or eye surgery when necessary.
- Co-manage pre and post-operative care for laser vision correction.
- Co-manage ocular diseases with ophthalmologists.
- Conduct research and promote education and advancement in the visual sciences.
