Although there are always a few bad apples in any group, your can rest assured that your optometrist is probably quite intelligent and well trained. There are only 17 optometry colleges in the United States, and the competition to get in is quite fierce, requiring excellent grades in just about everything.

Don't mistake your optometrist for a mere optician. Optometrists are trained doctors who can perform detailed eye tests and dispense eyewear prescriptions; opticians basically just sell and fit eyewear. In Great Britain, some opticians provide both services, but they're vanishingly rare in the U.S.

Your first step in finding a good optometrist should be networking with your family, friends, and co-workers. They may be able to help you narrow down the field considerably, and point you in the direction of someone they trust. Try to get several options before you go optometrist shopping.