Management of patients with age-related cataracts: a survey of Oklahoma optometrists.

Many advances have been made in recent years in the treatment of patients with cataracts, particularly in the area of aphakic vision correction. In this study, 60 optometrists were surveyed about their role in the management of patients who have cataracts significantly affecting vision. It was found that over 90% of the optometrists surveyed attempted to educate their patients about cataracts, cataract surgery, and alternatives for aphakic vision correction. However, these optometrists felt least knowledgeable about intraocular lens implants, the most common form of aphakic vision correction used today. It is recommended that the optometrist keep abreast of advances in the fields of cataract management and aphakic vision correction to provide patients with state of the art optometric care.