eye doctor
Americannoun
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an ophthalmologist.
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an optometrist.
Related Words
The term eye doctor refers generally to an ophthalmologist, but is also used informally (and imprecisely) in referring to an optometrist. An ophthalmologist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the eye. Ophthalmologists may prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses and also treat eye diseases with drugs and surgery. An optometrist is not a physician. Optometrists are professionally licensed to test a person for vision defects, prescribe and fit glasses and contact lenses, and prescribe therapeutic exercises, but they do not perform surgery and in most U.S. states may not prescribe drugs. An optician is licensed to make, sell, and fit glasses and, in most U.S. states, contact lenses prescribed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. The term oculist, which formerly referred to an ophthalmologist, is no longer used.
Etymology
Origin of eye doctor
First recorded in 1880–85
Compare meaning
How does eye-doctor compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Maybe, but children wouldn’t have go to the eye doctor as often to get prescriptions for new lenses.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026
After what has happened, Malak wants to train as an eye doctor, to help others who suffer as she does.
From BBC • Oct. 7, 2024
Kotb, 59, went on to explain that she wasn’t joking and considered going to the eye doctor but didn’t have time.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 2, 2024
He’s been hiking extremely long distances since 1993, when he retired as an eye doctor.
From NewsForKids.net • Jan. 29, 2024
The young man in charge was perhaps a qualified eye doctor, but his entire equipment consisted of a box of framed glasses, from gold-rimmed bifocals to a plastic-framed child’s pair.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
