What Is The Difference Between A Neuro-Optometrist And Neuro-Ophthalmologist?

A Neuro-Optometrist has graduated from optometry school but is also often board-certified, or even double board-certified, and has placed a special emphasis on treating a specific subset of patients beyond those that would typically just need an annual eye exam. These patients treated often include those that have suffered a traumatic brain injury, stroke, or another neurological insult. Neuro-Optometrists are able to utilize specialized glasses and prism prescriptions, tints and color filters, or most importantly, neuro-rehabilitation, to give the brain the tools it needs to re-organize and re-learn proper visual functioning.

Neuro-Ophthalmologists tend to prescribe medication or utilize surgery to treat vision problems that are related to brain function. A referral to a Neuro-Ophthalmologist may be appropriate in cases of optic neuritis, compressed optic neuropathy, suspected tumor, retinal damage, macular degeneration, or other systemic diseases affecting the eyes and brain. However, patients with traumatic brain injuries requiring rehabilitative therapy or functional lens prescriptions may not have all of their long-term goals addressed.

NEURO-OPTOMETRIC REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION

The Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association, International (NORA) is an interdisciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing patients who have physical or cognitive disabilities as a result of an acquired brain injury with a complete ocular health evaluation and optimum visual rehabilitation education and services to improve their quality of life.