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What is an Optometrist?
Children's Vision
- Your Child's First Glasses
- Kids and Contact Lenses
- Children and Sports
- The World Through Your Child’s Eyes
- Eye Allergies in Children
- A Child's Visual Milestones
- Pink Eye in Children
Eye Diseases and Conditions
- Keratoconus
- Recurrent Corneal Erosions
- Retinal Detachment
- Giant Cell Arteritis
- Low Vision
- Retinal Artery Occlusions
- Bell's Palsy
- Pupils
- Shingles
- Glaucoma
- Macular Degeneration
- Transient Ischemic Attacks
- Night Vision
- Trichiasis
- Blepharitis
- Diabetes
- Iritis
- Ptergium
- Vitreous Detachment
Eye Health by Age Group
Eye Irritation
Eye Surgery and Treatment
Eye Care in the Workplace
Women and Eye Health
Eyewear
Optometric Technology
New Regulations Improve Eye Care
What is Covered Under OHIP?
External Links and Resources
What is an Optometrist?
Optometrists are your eye doctors. Optometrists specialize in examining, diagnosing, treating, managing and preventing diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye and related structure, making Ontario’s optometrists your primary eye and vision health doctors.
Recommended treatments for patients can include eyeglasses, contact lenses, special low vision aids, eye co-ordination exercises, drug therapies, or referral to appropriate specialists for advanced medical, surgical or laser treatments.
Like physicians and dentists, optometrists are regulated health professionals who have completed a specialized 4-year University post graduate degree program, which includes extensive lectures and clinical training experience in human health and vision systems, optics, and patient care.
Optometrists, Opthalmologists and Opticians. We call these "The Three 'O's." But what is the difference between each practitioner? The chart below explains the responsibilities of each:

Click here to download the Wikipedia entry on Optometry.
A regular eye exam is a key part of good vision health. Use our find an optometrist directory to find an eye doctor near you and to schedule an appointment.
