Hindsight_54_2_FINAL.pdf HINDSIGHT: Journal of Optometry History 33 EDITORIAL DAVID A. GOSS, OD, PHD FROM THE EDITOR David A. Goss, O.D., PhD Emeritus Professor of Optometry, Indiana University dgoss@indiana.edu 10.14434/hindsight.v54i2.37204 This issue of Hindsight offers a sophisticated statistical analysis of the history of optometry journals, a history of tonometry, a look at efforts by Alabama optometrists to establish a scholarship award, three papers by optometry students from the Blast from the Past program and two book reviews. We also have an article on three eye care history organizations–our own Optometric Historical Society, plus the Ophthalmic Antiques International Collectors’ Club (OAICC) and the Ocular Heritage Society. Working on that article led me to look at some of the back issues of the OAICC’s quarterly periodical, Ophthalmic Antiques. The April 2019 issue of Ophthalmic Antiques had a fascinating article on establishing a uniform name for optometrists.1 In the 19th century there were many titles used by persons who provided optometric services. In Great Britain and in the United States the work toward licensure, certification, and establishment of educational programs in the late 19th century and early 20th century led to the recognition that achieving a uniform identity would require a common name for practitioners. Among the 48 names submitted to the British Optical Association Nomenclature Committee in 1903 were dioptrician, lenticulist, opticalist, optologist, optometrician, refracting optician, refractionist, sight specialist, sight tester, spectaclist, and visiometrician. Hofstetter, in his 1948 book Optometry: Professional, Economic, and Legal Aspects,2 also gave a listing of some of terms by which 19th century optometric practitioners identified themselves, such as eye specialist, lens fitter, vision specialist, qualified optician, eye consultant, and prescribing optician. The American Association of Opticians officially adopted the term optometrist at its 1904 convention following the urging of John C. Eberhardt and other optometric leaders.3,4 However, it is interesting to note that it wouldn’t be until 1919 that the organization changed its name to the American Optometric Association. I wonder how many optometrists today know that if Charles Prentice had had his way, we would be calling ourselves opticists. REFERENCES 1. Baker D. The College of Opsiologists? Ophthalmic Antiques 2019;147:12-13. 2. Hofstetter HW. Optometry: Professional, Economic, and Legal Aspects. St. Louis, MO: Mosby, 1948:90. 3. Gregg JR. American Optometric Association: A History. St. Louis, MO: American Optometric Association, 1972:22-27. 4. Goss DA. From Spectacle Making Trade to Scholarly Profession: A History of Optometry in the United States. Forest Grove, OR: Pacific University Press, 2022:57-59. David A. Goss, O.D., Ph.D.