Outcomes of the Application of the Optometrists Role as Primary Health Care Workers

Abstract

By education, training, and in many jurisdictions by statutory provi­sion, optometrists play a comprehen­sive role as primary health care providers. The widespread distribu­tion of optometrists in North Amer­ica and other highly developed coun­tries contribute to their ability to apply this role. Experience within service programs of the School of Optometry of the University of Wa­terloo show the role is also applicable to such diverse remote and under­developed regions as the Canadian North and various Caribbean and African countries. The high preva­lence of visual anomalies among those who are healthy and an in­creased prevalence of such anoma­lies as well as impaired visual func­tion among those in ill health result in optometrical practices being primary points of entry to the health system. The optometrist thus has considera­ble opportunity for health education, health surveillance, health mainte­nance, as well as the application of specific optometrical therapies.
Documentation of optometrical activities in various service programs of the School of Optometry directed toward general and specific segments of the Canadian population demon­strate the effectiveness of this role in both rural and urban settings.
The paper cites the results of the application of the Primary Health Care role with data drawn from gen­eral populations in Canada and such specific underserviced populations as the institutionalized aged, the men­tally retarded, preschool children, Canadian Eskimo, as well as small isolated Northern Ontario Communities.