Eye Care ProfessionalsDr. P. Harvey, OD, MPH

Optometry 10History of Medicine and Optometry

Early Man - Prehistoric Times• sought supernatural explanations for catastrophic events; felt demons/spirits control events

° trephination: when holes are cut into peoples heads to release evil spirits

Hippocrates (460 - 377 BC)• Greek physician who is considered to be the Father of Medicine• developed humoral theory that attributed disease to the various fluids of the body; that is, disease

was caused by physical causes (the body humors) rather than demons• documented signs and symptoms and analyzed possible causes and associations (epidemiology)• developed ethical principles that the physician's primary obligation was to the patient (Hippocratic oath)

Medicine in the Middle Ages (~400 - ~1400 AD)• period between the decline of Rome and the beginning of the Middle Ages

° Dark Ages (aka Medieval Period) for first 600 years• Western Europe: because of raids and wars, cities were walled in defense which became filthy

and disease-ridden; very little advancement in medicine° impact of the Black Plaque

Renaissance Period (~1400s - 1500s)• represents the end of the Dark and Middle Ages and the beginning of times of medical and

scientific discoveries as well as cultural advancements

Anesthesia• in 1830-40s, 'ether frolics' and 'laughing gas parties' were popular• physician used ether on a reluctant party-going patient • its success quickly spread to the rest of the world

Antisepsis and Sanitation• Joseph Lister (1827-1912) England

° in 1870s was impressed by Pasteur's work and felt bacteria was in air and around patients° developed antisepsis used in hospitals and for surgery and greatly decreased mortality

• Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) England° worked in military hospitals; was appalled by conditions in which the wounded were kept° created new standards for the care of wounded and sick; decreased mortality rate° founded fist school of nursing

Early health care providers and physicians• various unregulated groups (allopaths, homeopaths, naturopaths, botanical healers, medical physicians)• physicians - elevated professional standards (American Medical Association)• dentists• pharmacists (apothecary)

Development of Glasses• European lensmakers made lenses; frames made out of whalebones, horns and wood• range of prescriptive glasses expanded

° convex lenses ~1285 AD for presbyopia° concave lenses ~1480 AD for myopia° bifocals lenses ~1785 AD for distance and near vision (Benjamin Franklin)° cylindrical lenses ~1825 AD for astigmatism

Early Spectacle Peddlers• traveled around America with prefabricated glasses

Early Optical Shops• developed methods of testing and prescribing for vision problems

°° first vision chart was developed by Snellen (1862)° refraction was developed as a scientific procedure for prescribing glasses

• opticians divided into two groups:° dispensing opticians: their fit glasses from prescriptions written by physicians° refracting opticians: they examined patients, and prescribed and dispensed glasses

• until ~1903-4 optometrists were referred to as opticians

Optometric Education• in 1890 an optometric education usually consisted of a 2-week course in refraction offered by optical

companies who sold basic equipment. There were as many as 60 optical schools in the early 1900s and they ranged from formalized programs to correspondence schools; most were for-profit. When education requirements were established for optometry schools, many schools were disqualified or later folded.

• the optometry school at the University of California at Berkeley was started in 1923 in the Physics Dept.° in 1941 Berkeley established a separate School of Optometry (2-year program) ° in 1966 expanded to a 4-year program and gave the doctor of optometry degree

Optometry in the 20th Century• many advances and expansion of knowledge responsibilities in all areas

The "3 O's"

• Opticians

• Optometrists

• Ophthalmologists

The Roles and Responsibilities of Optometrists

• refractions and glasses• contact lenses • pediatrics • binocular vision problems • ocular and systemic diseases (anterior, posterior, cataracts, glaucoma, etc.)• surgery co-management• low vision (for visually impaired)• advanced technology and research

Common Myths about Vision

Is it bad for your eyes if you sit too close to the TV?Did I become more nearsighted because I didn’t eat my carrots?Does it hurt your eyes to read in the dark?Is it true that dogs only see black and white?Is it bad to look at the sun?

The Future of Vision and Health Care