optometrist

An optometrist is a primary eye care professional who provides comprehensive vision assessments, determines refractive errors, and prescribes corrective lenses. They perform eye health evaluations, screen for common eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration, and refer patients to ophthalmologists for medical or surgical treatment when needed. Depending on local regulations, optometrists may also diagnose and manage certain eye conditions and prescribe medications related to eye care.

Education and licensure typically require completing a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree from an accredited program after undergraduate study. To practice, optometrists must obtain licensure, which usually involves passing national or regional board examinations and meeting ongoing continuing education requirements. Specific requirements vary by country or state.

Scope of practice includes fitting and prescribing eyeglasses and contact lenses, testing and correcting visual acuity, and evaluating binocular vision and eye coordination. In many jurisdictions, optometrists may diagnose and manage common eye diseases, provide vision therapy, and prescribe medications for eye conditions within their legal scope. When conditions lie beyond their scope, they refer patients to ophthalmologists or other specialists. They work in private practices, clinics, hospitals, or academic settings, and may collaborate with other health professionals as part of comprehensive patient care.

Optometrists differ from ophthalmologists, who are medical doctors capable of performing eye surgery, and from opticians, who primarily fit and dispense lenses. Professional organizations such as the American Optometric Association and international bodies like the World Council of Optometry support standards of education, patient safety, and public eye health.