Definition: A frontline activity, providing care and identifying disease before it becomes a serious medical issue. Primary eye care can be delivered in many different ways.
Primary eye care services include the following:
- Educating patients about maintaining and promoting healthy vision.
- Performing a comprehensive examination of the visual system.
- Screening for eye diseases and conditions affecting vision that may be asymptomatic.
- Recognizing ocular manifestations of systemic diseases and systemic effects of ocular medications.
- Making a differential diagnosis and definitive diagnosis for any abnormalities that are detected.
- Performing refractions.
- Fitting and prescribing optical aids such as glasses and contact lenses.
- Deciding on a treatment plan and treating patients’ eye care needs with appropriate therapies.
- Counseling and educating patients about their eye disease conditions.
- Determining when to triage patients for more specialized care and referring to specialists as needed and appropriate.
- Coordinating care with other physicians involved in the patient’s overall medical management.
Primary eye care practitioners generally assume responsibility for coordinating eye care services necessary to optimize a patient’s visual function.
This coordination involves interacting with, referring to, and consulting with other physicians and health professionals, specialists, and community programs.