The History of Optometry

Aloysius William French is widely regarded as the father of optometry due to his significant contributions to the field, including the development of the optometer and the establishment of the first school of optometry.

The first school of optometry, the Northern Illinois College of Optometry, was established in Chicago in 1894.

In the early days of optometry, the primary role of optometrists was to fit eyeglasses for people with vision problems.

Optometrists began to perform eye exams in the 1920s, expanding their role in eye care beyond simply fitting eyeglasses.

The Optometry Act of 1920 granted optometrists the right to use drugs and perform certain surgical procedures, such as removing foreign objects from the eye.

Optometrists achieved the right to prescribe eyeglasses in all 50 states in 1970.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) is the largest organization representing optometrists in the United States.

In modern-day practice, optometrists perform a variety of tasks, including fitting eyeglasses, performing eye exams, and treating eye diseases.

Optometrists treat a variety of common eye diseases, including cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

Myopia (nearsightedness) is the most common vision problem that optometrists correct.

Emmetropia is the term for the ability to see objects clearly at both near and far distances.

Concave lenses are used to correct myopia.

Convex lenses are used to correct hyperopia.

Cylindrical lenses are used to correct astigmatism.

Bifocal lenses are used to correct presbyopia.