- Eye Care in Nebraska
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Vision Conditions
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Glossary of All Eye & Vision Conditions
- Acanthamoeba
- Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
- Anterior Uveitis
- Astigmatism
- Blepharitis
- Cataract
- Chalazion
- Color Vision Deficiency
- Conjunctivitis
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Dry Eye
- Eye Coordination
- Glaucoma
- Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
- Keratoconus
- Macular Degeneration
- Myopia (Nearsightedness)
- Nystagmus
- Ocular Hypertension
- Presbyopia
- Retinitis Pigmentosa
- Retinoblastoma
- Spots and Floaters
- Strabismus (Crossed Eyes)
- Visual Acuity: What is 20/20 Vision?
- Información acerca de sus ojos - Español
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Glossary of All Eye & Vision Conditions
- Good Vision Throughout Life
- Caring for Your Vision
- Parents and Educators
Consumer Information
- What is Diabetes?
- What Does My Optometrist See?
- Living with Diabetes and Preventing Eye Disease
- Low Vision Rehabilitation
- Diabetic Retinopathy
What does a Doctor of Optometry do?
A Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) in Nebraska is licensed to provide a broad range of primary eye care services.
Optometrists examine the internal and external structure of the eye to diagnose eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal disorders; systemic diseases like hypertension and diabetes; and vision conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia.
Optometrists test to determine the patient's ability to focus and coordinate the eyes and to judge depth and see colors accurately.
Optometrists prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses, low vision aids, and vision therapy.
Optometrists prescribe medications to treat eye diseases, including oral and topical pharmaceutical agents that relieve pain, reduce swelling, and treat infections.
As primary eye care providers, optometrists are an integral part of the patient's health care team and serve as an entry point into the health care system for many people. They are skilled in the co-management of care that affects eye health and vision and serve as an excellent source of referral to other health care providers.
What Qualifications Do Doctors Of Optometry Have?
A Doctor of Optometry must complete four years of specialized, post-college graduate education and training at an accredited College of Optometry and must pass a standardized licensing examination approved by the State of Nebraska. The four-year post-graduate curriculum is concentrated solely on eye and vision health with a rigorous combination of classroom and clinical experience. Students receive a thorough understanding of the human health system and its inter-relationships with the eyes, including the systemic interactions and implications of pharmaceutical agents used in the practice of optometry.
After licensure, optometrists must complete a minimum of 16 hours of approved continuing education each year in order to maintain their license. This continuing education assures that ODs are always current on the latest, most effective, and safest ways to care for their patients.
Who Oversees or Regulates Optometrists In Nebraska?
Nebraska Health & Human Services SystemVonda Apking
Credentialing Coordinator
Regulation & Licensure Division
Board of Optometry
P. O. Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986
Phone: 402/471-4929
Fax: 402/471-3577
Email: vonda.apking@hhss.state.ne.us
Public Health Programs in Nebraska
See To Learn®
An innovative, three-step, preventive health program designed to ensure that kindergarten children entering school can see to learn; and to educate parents, grandparents, and educators about the warning signs of vision problems in all school-age children. Learn more here, or visit SeeToLearn.com.
InfantSEE®
Affords a one-time, comprehensive eye assessment at no cost for infants in their first years of life. Find out more at InfantSEE.org.