title: Primary health care - the role of optometry.
abstract: Optometrists, like all health care providers, should emphasize primary or preventive care. To provide this care optometrists must be aware of the risk factors for major causes of mortality. As an example, the risk profile for a white male age 45 to 49 years is given and discussed. Suggestions for primary vision care and detection of major risk factors by optometrists are also presented.
mesh_terms: D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D009907:Optometry; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012306:Risk; D012380:Role; D014481:United States; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*