Optometrists are health professionals who diagnose and treat vision
problems and diseases of the eye. An optometrist is not a medical doctor, but
rather a doctor of optometry (OD).
Optometrists can perform routine vision testing, prescribe
eyeglasses and contact lenses, diagnose vision problems and eye disease,
prescribe medications to treat some diseases of the eye, and provide care
before and after eye surgery.
Optometrists must complete at least 3 years of undergraduate work
and 4 years of optometry school. They must take a national licensing
examination and are licensed by the state in which they practice.
