ophthalmologist

American

[of-thuhl-mol-uh-jist, -thuh-, -thal-, op-] / ˌɒf θəlˈmɒl ə dʒɪst, -θə-, -θæl-, ˌɒp- /

noun

a doctor of medicine specializing in ophthalmology.

ophthalmologist British

/ ˌɒfθælˈmɒlədʒɪst /

noun

a medical practitioner specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See eye doctor.

Etymology

Origin of ophthalmologist

First recorded in 1825–35; ophthalmo- + -log(y) + -ist

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.

An FDA ophthalmologist at the meeting didn’t speak at all.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Specialist medical treatment - an ophthalmologist, dermatologist, podiatrist and orthopaedist - is available, as are nutritionists and hydrationists, while chefs rustle up home comforts from every corner of the globe.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2026

"The eventual goal is that it would be readily available at your local ophthalmologist."

From Science Daily • Nov. 8, 2025

But we also pay out of pocket for periodic visits with specialists like our ophthalmologist and dentist, with whom we’ve developed relationships over the years.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 27, 2025

After the exam we went to the ophthalmologist and I picked out my eyeglasses.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023