>>>>>>Is optometrist norsk? Neat.
>>>>>
>>>>>No, in Norwegian (norsk) it's optiker.
>>>>
>>>>So where does it come from?
>>>
>>>See http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos073.htm.
>>>
>>>An optometrist is an "eye doctor" which is a registered title, meaning that you are not allowed to call yourself an optometrist unless you have the necessary education. However, I realize that the correct translation for "optiker" is optician, a title you can claim without any formal education, as far as I know. Personally I prefer to go to an optometrist.
>>
>>So the german Optiker should translate to optometrist. False friend. (Hey, Drag, do you listen?)
>>
>>Agnes
>
>As far as I know, an Optiker is an optician. An optician usually works in a shop where they sell glasses. An optometrist usually works in a office with only a nurse, just like a general doctor, an Artz.
>
>From Wikipedia: An optician is an eye care professional who provides corrective lenses based on a refraction prescription supplied by a ophthalmologist or optometrist. The lenses may be contact lenses, spectacles or rarely as a monocle.

This makes it even more worse.

In germany the Optiker may work withouy any eye doctor. He is perfecty fitted to do all thasks himself. This is the common way since the doctor is normaly nothing then a waste of time.
The Optiker will also work based on a recommendation given by a doctor.

Update,

One goes to the doctor initialy, but if there is nothing abnormal one will stick with the Optiker.
Agnes