Optometrists are also known as eye doctors. As their title suggests, eye doctors exist to care for patients' vision and eye health. Optometrists offer many services that can help people of all ages and eye conditions. Here are four things that your optometrist can do for you.

1. Treat eye infections.

Eye infections occur when bacteria or viruses proliferate in your eyes or eyelids. Sometimes, bacteria and viruses are introduced to your eyes through a corneal abrasion. In other cases, the culprit might be an instance of touching your eyes with dirty hands. People with eye infections may experience red, swollen eyes that feel itchy or painful. You may also notice blurred vision. Optometrists can diagnose and treat eye infections with the use of oral antibiotics and topical antibiotic ointments.

2. Help you overcome dry eyes.

It's normal for your eyes to feel dry after you emerge from a swimming pool or pull an all-nighter. However, if your eyes feel dry every day, you may have a condition called chronic dry eye. Chronic dry eye can happen when a person's eyes don't produce enough tears or when the tears their eyes produce dissolve too quickly. Optometrists can help people overcome their dry eyes by prescribing medicated eye drops. Tear duct plugs can also be installed in order to help patients retain their natural tears for longer, thus doing away with chronic dryness.

3. Improve your vision.

Optometrists can help people see more clearly. If your vision is impaired due to myopia or hyperopia, corrective lenses can help. Optometrists can administer visual acuity tests to patients. Once your optometrist figures out how severely your vision is degraded, they can write you a prescription for a pair of glasses or contact lenses. Corrective lenses alter the way light refracts, allowing your eyes to compensate for their natural deficiencies. Patients should return to their optometrist's office every year to update their prescription before purchasing a new pair of glasses or contacts.

4. Diagnose eye diseases.

Eye diseases can compromise the health of your eyes as well as your vision. Like most diseases, eye diseases are most easily treated when they are diagnosed promptly. Optometrists will thoroughly examine your eyes using their vision and a host of helpful tools. Optometrists can diagnose retinopathy, glaucoma, and even diabetes by looking at your eyes. Optometrists can also help patients manage eye conditions and diseases through the use of medications and therapies.