Optometrists are primary care practitioners for vision and ocular health concerns. They are trained to diagnose, manage, and treat a multitude of visual and ocular health-related concerns, including, but not limited to, fitting and prescribing spectacles and contact lenses, treating minor ocular injuries, diagnosing and treating diseases such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. In some states in the United States, optometrists perform eye surgery including laser and other refractive surgery.

The three "O"s in eyecare are: opticians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists. The word optometrist comes from the Greek roots, optos, meaning seen or visible and metria, meaning measurement. An optometrist literally means "one who measures vision."

There are 16 educational institutions across North America that offer doctorate level programs in optometry. The programs generally have an undergraduate degree as a prerequisite, and then run four years addressing academic and clinical topics.

In the United States, ophthalmologist and optometrist are specific terms referring to specific state licensing and courses of professional study. There is considerable overlap in the scope of the two specialties. Optometrists have received a doctor of optometry (OD) degree. Some optometrists complete residencies. They are thus doctors, and are licensed to detect, treat, manage, and refer cases of eye disease. Ophthalmologists are doctors (MD) who have completed a residency in ophthalmology and received board certification. Some opthalmologists perform an additional fellowship in a specific subspecialty of ophthalmology. The American Optometric Association characterizes optometrists as "primary eye care providers." Ophthalmogists may perform surgery, and optometrists generally do not. More recently with changes in state laws in the U.S., there is also much overlap in the capabilities of the two professions in treating eye disease and the ability to use both diagnostic and therapeutic pharmacological agents.

Oculist is an old word for eye doctor, and can refer to either kind of practitioner.

Specialities with optometry include:

• contact lenses
• vision therapy
• ocular disease
• low vision
• geriatrics
• pediatrics

See also

• Eyeglass prescription