Vision 2020 and the role of Optometry Practice in Nigeria- episode 3

Optom
 Optometry is a health care profession concerned with eyes and related structures, as well as vision, visual systems, and vision information processing in humans. Optometrists are professionals who provide vision care ranging from sight testing and correction to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of vision changes. Optometrists qualify to diagnose and treat eye diseases such as Diabetic Retinopathy, Cataracts, Glaucoma, and Macular Degeneration. Like most professions, Optometry education, certification and practice is regulated by the government. (Wikipedia).
Optometry has come a long way. Let me take you down memory lane from the medieval period. The word "Optometry" is a combination of two Greek words, 'opsis' which means view ad 'metron'; which means measure or something to measure. We were first called optometrist by Edmund Landolt in 1886; which means 'glass fitter'. So any one then who constructs lenses on a spectacle or on a stand was known as an Optometrist.
About more than a thousand years ago, Sir Joseph Needham a historian, stated that ancient China invented the earliest eyeglasses. David A. Goss, O.D., Ph.D., argued that most likely Italy were already making glasses as @ 1305 AD. Benito Daza de Valdes published a book in Optometry in 1623 were he described use and fitting of eyeglasses. In 1692, William Molyneux wrote a book on optics and lenses, Myopia and other ocular problems. Johanes Kepler discovered how the retina creates vision. Thomas Young discovered Astigmatism and George Biddel Airy designed the first spherocylinders to treat it between 1773-1829. Mr Peter Brown was the first man to wear a pair of glasses in the USA. The first man buy a pair of Glasses in the USA is McAllister Sr., from Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1783. McAllister Jr., started making glasses in USA in 1811 and in 1853 they started refraction which they taught students.
In January 11, 1922 American Optometric Association was formed. Same year saw Optometry choosing to become professional instead of business! The first school of Optometry in America was built in 1872. in 1940 the first contact lens were invented.
In Nigeria, Nigerian Optical and Ophthalmic Co limited in 1964 introduced Optometry in Nigeria. It was changed to Optical association and Nigerian Optometric Association in 1968. The umbrella body was an all comers affairs, since there was no regulatory body. But based on the above evolving Optometric definition and with emphasis on professionalism. Hence, the formation of Optometrists and Dispensing Optician board following Decree No 34 of 1989 on 7th December. It was inaugurated by the then Minister of Health, late Professor Ransome-Kuti on 12th October 1992. Optometry has come a long way indeed. To be continued....

Dr Victor Ezebuiroh Okwudiri.