Optometry Overview

Overview

For more information on careers in this field, click on the appropriate profession(s) in the Career Explorer section of this site.

Optometry is the field involving virtually everything that has to do with eyes and vision, including examination, diagnosis, and treatment of the eyes and surrounding structures, and the treatment of vision problems.

Doctors of Optometry (ODs) are the primary health care professionals for the eyes. They should not be confused with ophthalmologists or dispensing opticians. Ophthalmologists are physicians who perform eye surgery, in addition to diagnosing and treating eye conditions. Dispensing opticians fit eyeglasses and contact lenses, following prescriptions written by ophthalmologists or optometrists.

For more information about pursuing a degree in optometry, see the Website for the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry. This organization publishes a PDF of their Optometry Career Guide.

You can download, save and print a PDF of this overview:

Optometry Overview PDF 28 Dec 2010 [pdf, 60 KB]

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