Optometrist
/ˌɒp.təˈmɛ.trɪst/noun
A health professional who examines eyes and vision.
Did you know?Optometrist is built from Greek opsis/opt- “sight, eye” + metron “measure,” so the profession’s name is literally about measuring vision rather than healing it.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὄψις (opsis), ὀπτός (optos), μέτρον (metron)
“Sight, appearance, seen; and a measure or standard.”
Late Latin
Latin
opticus / metrum
“Borrowed or learned forms used in scholarly vocabulary relating to sight and measurement.”
19th Century
English
optometer
“An instrument for measuring the eye's refractive power or visual acuity.”
Late 19th Century
English
optometrist
“A specialist who measures vision and prescribes corrective lenses.”
Modern English
English
optometrist
“A health professional who examines eyes and vision.”