The optometrist's role in public health.

The scope of the optometric profession, and its relationship to the total health care system, is in a state of constant change; many of the changes are influenced by or impact upon that area of health care that is referred to as public health. Very basically, public health is "people's health" --a concern for the health and well-being of groups of people. It emphasizes the role of health care practitioners in the delivery of health care to the aggregate, as opposed to the individualized or private system of health care delivery. Fundamental to the overall philosophy of public health is the necessity to make comprehensive health care readily available and accessible to all segments of the population. Optometry must expand its efforts to recognize, evaluate and assume its role in the maintenance of the health and well-being of the public, both domestically and internationally.