Questions the Rest of the World Has for Americans

9. Do Americans really call opticians eye doctors?

When someone mentions they need to go to the eye doctor for a check-up and some new glasses, you probably don’t give it a second thought. But to the rest of the world, this is a little strange.

It boils down to the language Americans use to describe the medical professionals who deal with eyes and vision, which can be a little confusing. When we need an eye exam, we visit an optometrist. To get our glasses fitted, we see an optician. Lastly, for more advanced things, we go to an ophthalmologist. Americans like to keep things simple, so it's all grouped together under the label of an eye doctor.