What does an optometrist do?
“Optometrists are independent, primary health care providers for the eye. They examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye” (ASCO).
More specifically, they can prescribe medications, vision therapy, glasses and contacts, and even perform certain surgical procedures.
OPtometry FAq’s
Choosing This Field
When exploring whether optometry is the right profession for you, make sure to look at various resources to inform you about careers, engage in self reflection regularly, and seek out relevant clinical and service experiences.
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) has many helpful resources to help explore the field, including the Become a Future Eye Doctor page, their Optometry Career Guide.pdf and “True Stories.”
The American Optometrist Association also offers some helpful resources for exploration of the field, including Studying Optometry and Career Pathways.
Why Optometry is Separate from Medical School
Optometry is a distinct healthcare profession focused on vision care and the health of the eyes. Students interested in becoming optometrists attend optometry school, where they earn the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree through a four-year professional program following their undergraduate education.
Unlike medical school—which trains students to become physicians (MDs or DOs)—optometry school provides specialized education in eye examinations, vision testing, prescribing corrective lenses, detecting eye diseases, and providing non-surgical treatments for many ocular conditions.
While optometrists are trained to manage certain eye diseases (like glaucoma or infections), they do not perform surgery.
It’s important to understand the difference between an Optometrist (OD) and an Ophthalmologist (MD/DO):
- Optometrists (ODs) are not medical doctors, but they are licensed healthcare professionals who focus on primary vision care and some aspects of eye disease management.
- Ophthalmologists (MDs or DOs) are physicians who specialize in eye and vision care, and they are trained to perform surgery and manage more complex medical conditions involving the eyes. Ophthalmologists attend medical school, complete a medical residency in ophthalmology, and are licensed as physicians.
Optometry has its own centralized application system (OptomCAS), accrediting body, and national board exams (NBEO). Because of this specialized training and regulatory framework, optometry is separate from the traditional MD/DO medical school pathway.
What is the required preparation?
Unlike most medical and dental school programs, optometry programs’ prerequisite course requirements vary significantly from school to school. The majority of programs expect one year of Biology, General Chemistry, Physics, English, and Math. A good portion of schools also expect coursework in Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Psychology.
To learn about additional school-specific requirements, explore the ASCO’s table.pdf, which lists school-specific requirements of member schools and colleges. The ASCO’s FAQs page also includes a discussion of How to Get Into Optometry School.
In addition to undergraduate preparation, applicants are also required to take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT), a five-hour exam that tests on understanding of foundational concepts and big ideas from science coursework.
A Doctor of Optometry program takes four years to complete. For information on the application process, visit the OptomCAS page How to Apply.
Finding a Program
To find optometry schools, look at the ASCOs Directory of Schools and Colleges. To search programs based on specific criteria, explore the Optometry Programs Admission Directory.