Many people mistakenly believe that an ophthalmologist, as a medical doctor, is better to see for routine eye exams than an optometrist. Though there is nothing wrong with seeing an ophthalmologist, his or her expertise is in surgery, while the optometrist specializes in the kind of care required for routine eye exams and noninvasive therapies and treatments for eye disease. An ophthalmologist will normally have higher fees than an optometrist, and might hand off much of the routine exam to an in-house optometrist anyway. If a problem arises that can be treated with surgery or alternate therapies, the ophthalmologist might be more likely to suggest surgery, while the optometrist will likely exhaust other potential treatments first. Unless a problem exists that requires an ophthalmologist, an optometrist will likely be a more cost-effective choice for routine eye care.

In the United States, a person that has completed at least three years of higher education at an accredited university or college is eligible to attend an accredited four-year school in optometry. This is followed by state board examinations, both written and clinical. The optometrist may then choose to complete an additional one-year residency to specialize in any number of areas including family practice, ocular disease, pediatric optometry and vision therapy.