How many optometrists are there in North Dakota?
There are currently 200 optometrists licensed to practice in North Dakota. Of those, 141 are actually engaged in practicing in the state, and the remaining 59 are practicing outside the state.

What is an optometrist?
An optometrist is a primary health care practitioner trained to diagnose signs of ocular, neurological and systemic health problems, and treat vision disorders. TPA certified doctors of optometry may treat eye diseases and injuries, prescribe medicine, and perform other procedures such as corneal foreign body removal.

What is the training of an optometrist?
Doctors of optometry must complete the same undergraduate curriculum as all other health care professionals. Optometry schools are four year curriculums, and include at least two years of clinical training. Following graduation, all optometrists must pass a battery of tests issued by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, which includes clinical competency testing, as well as a North Dakota Jurisprudence Examination.

What is the difference between an optometrist, and ophthalmologist, and an optician?

• An optometrist, as described above is a doctor of optometry trained in the diagnosis and treatment of ocular disorders, and licensed by the ND State Board of Optometry. Optometrists prescribe glasses, contact lenses, medicines for eye disease, and minor procedures such as removal of foreign bodies from the cornea.
• An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor trained in eye surgery and eye disease. They may prescribe glasses, contact lensses, medicine, and perform minor and major surgical procedures, such as catarct surgery and refractive surgery. Ophthalmologists are licensed by the ND Board of Medicine.
• An optician is an eye wear provider trained to select, manufacture, and dispense spectacles, and sell or deliver contact lenses upon the written prescription of an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Opticians are not licensed by optometrists or ophthalmologists, nor are they licensed by a state agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my optometrist have to release my contact lens prescription to me?
Under Federal and North Dakota Law, an optometrist is required to release a patient's spectacle prescription, but is not required to release a prescription for contact lenses; however, he/she is not prohibited from doing so.

Can opticians change my prescription for bifocals to trifocals or progressive lenses, or change the type of contact lenses without a prescription change from my optometrist or ophthalmologist?
No. Opticians must fill the prescription as written. The optician must contact the optometrist or ophthalmologist for authorization, otherwise he/she is practicing optometry without a license.

Do I own my optometric record?
No, the doctor owns the actual record, however, you are entitled to a copy of the record upon a signed release, and the doctor is entitled to charge a reasonable fee for copying the record. The prescription for your glasses is considered a separate part, and must be released as part of the examination fee. Prescriptions must have an expiration date, and FAX prescriptions are not valid prescriptions.