Optometry
The three "O"s in eyecare are: Opticians, Optometrists, and Ophthalmologists. 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.Optometrists are the primary care practitioners for vision and ocular health concerns. They are trained to effectively 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.