Optometry
Optometrists are a primary care practitioner 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.The three "O"s in eyecare are: Opticians, Optometrists, and Ophthalmologists. The word optometrist comes from the Greek root, "opto-," meaning "vision." 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. They are thus doctors, though not medical doctors, and are licensed to detect, treat, manage, and refer cases of eye disease. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (MD) who have typically performed an additional three to five years of residency in ophthalmology, and received board certification. The American Academy of Ophthalmology emphasizes the distinction by promoting the phrase "Eye MD" to refer to ophthalmologists. The American Optometric Association characterizes optometrists as "primary eye care providers." Very broadly, ophthalmogists tend to be oriented toward the treatment of eye disease, and optometrists toward the maintenance of optimum vision in healthy eyes.
Oculist is an old word for eye doctor, and can refer to either kind of practitioner.