By Enechi, G.o & Akpalaba, R.u
Optometric practice involves clinical, academic, research, advocacy and humanitarian/community services. The research activity involves a systematic process of gathering and analyzing data with a view to generating meaningful report(s) to solving a given optometric problem. The data generated by optometrists on daily basis are quite enormous to support various levels of research endeavors. These data could be extracted, processed, analyzed and transformed into meaningful information through the vehicle of Information Communication Technology (ICT). This paper looks at various aspects of optometric activities with a focus on Research, the opportunities offered by ICT and how ICT could advance research activities in optometry. The various ICT methods of data capture from optometric devices, patient’s medical files and audio-visual recordings were considered. Also the benefits of ICT support in executing the major phases of optometric research processes such as study hypothesis, literature review, materials and instrumentation, data analysis, referencing, etc, were considered in details. Introduction of ICT into optometric research processes could yield quick return on investment. Since adaptation implies survival of the fittest and ICT is the language of modern age, for optometry to assert its relevance in modern time and into the next century, it is recommended that every optometrist should adopt and apply ICT techniques, especially in research activities.