You searched for: “optometrist”
oculist, optician, ophthalmologist, optometrist
oculist (AHK yuh list) (noun)
An individual who may be a medically trained person and whose specialty is to test someone's vision and to prescribe corrective lenses: The office for Marina's oculist is very convenient to where she works so she can get her eyes tested during her lunch break."
optician (ahp TISH uhn) (noun)
1. An individual who makes or sells equipment for the assessment, etc. of eyes: Jason's new job is as an optician, working for a large company which makes optical equipment.
2. An individual who grinds the lenses for eyeglasses according to a prescription: To be an optician requires a careful and steady hand when operating the equipment to grind the lenses for spectacles.
ophthalmologist (ahf" thuhl MAHL uh jist, ahp" thuhl MAHL uh jist) (noun)
A medical doctor who specializes in the diseases, functions, and structures of the eyes: Myrna's cousin was inspired to be an ophthalmologist after his mother had lost her eyesight.
optometrist (ahp TAHM i trist) (noun)
An individual skilled and trained to test for defects in vision and to prescribe corrective spectacles: The local optometrist placed his certificates of training and education on his office wall so people would feel confident in his abilities to examine their eyes properly.

Years ago, the oculist was like a travelling salesperson who would come to a person's door; open a suitcase, and demonstrate the wares.

Now, someone can go in for more specialized services: A person can be referred by his or her optometrist to see an ophthalmologist if the optometrist suspects she or he has an eye disease.

If the ophthalmologist gives someone a prescription for new glasses, he or she can go to the optician to have the prescription filled.

This entry is located in the following units: Confusing Words Clarified: Group O; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. + (page 1) -ology, -logy, -ologist, -logist (page 50)
optometrist
A health care professional who is licensed to provide primary eye care services:
  1. To examine and diagnose eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal diseases and, in certain states in the U.S., to treat them.
  2. To diagnose related systemic (bodywide) conditions such as hypertension and diabetes that may affect the eyes.
  3. To examine, to diagnose, and to treat visual conditions; such as, nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia.
  4. To prescribe glasses, contact lenses, low vision rehabilitation, and medications; as well as, to perform minor surgical procedures; such as, the removal of foreign bodies.
This entry is located in the following units: -ist (page 42) op-, opt-, optico-, opsi-, opso-, -opia, -ops, -opsia, -opsis, -opsy, -optic, -opic, -opy (page 8)
Word Entries at Get Words: “optometrist”
optometrist (s), optometrists (pl) (nouns)
Medical doctors who measure the visual powers and acuities of patients and then prescribe corrective lenses, and diagnose and treat various diseases of the eyes.
This entry is located in the following unit: Health Care Providers, Health-Care Providers, Healthcare Providers (page 2)