A Historical Study on Development of Optometry

TL;DR

This paper explores the historical development of optometry as an interdisciplinary field rooted in optics and biomedical physics, highlighting regional influences and proposing a European development model for Korea.

Contribution

It provides a historical analysis of optometry's evolution and suggests adopting a European development strategy for future growth in Korea.

Findings

Optometry originated from optics and biomedical physics in the 19th century.

Population-geographic factors influenced optometry development in the U.S. and Australia.

A European development model is recommended for Korea's optometry advancement.

Abstract

Development of optometry in western countries was studied on a viewpoint of the history of science. It was revealed that optometry had been formed on the basis of optics, a branch of physics, to which biomedical study was added. Optometry can be defined as a pioneering interdisciplinary field of study and as biomedical physics of the 19th century. It is pointed out that population-geographic factors have affected on the development of optometry in the U. S. A. and Australia. European development model is suggested for a strategy for the next-generation development of Korean optometry, rather than American model.