Hindsight_55_2_no bleed_FINAL.pdf


54 Volume 55, Number 2, Fall 2024

ABSTRACT 

From Spectacle Making Trade to Scholarly 
Profession, a History of Optometry in the 
United States. David A. Goss. Forest Grove, 
OR: Pacific University Press, 2022. ISBN-13: 
978-1945398063. 368 pages. Paperback.

INTRODUCTION

This insightful romp through the 
history of optometry in the United States 
by Dr. David Goss takes its readers on a 
journey through the first six centuries 
of optometry and the development of 
vision care. It follows the maturation of 
optometry as a profession to the frontline 
of vision care as the profession exists 
today. The book was first published 
by Pacific University Press in 2022 and 
consists of seven chapters split into two 
parts with an additional four appendices. 
Despite its length of 343 pages, it is a 
quick read. The first part covers the overall 
history of the profession, starting with 
its origin in Europe, while the second 
part covers aspects of the development 
of optometry as a scholarly profession 
in greater detail. The appendices cover 
details such as listings of optometry 
schools in the United States, the changing 
optometry student body, optometric 
periodicals and the history of optometry 
books. 

Part One starts by giving us a view 
into the origin of spectacles circa 1286 in Northern Italy with the 
publication of the first known book on the subject of optometry 
written in 1623 by Benito Daza de Valdes. Next, the book explores 
the history of optometry in the United States from colonial 
America to present day. The book then covers the development 

of optometry from a trade to a profession: 
through the development of the 
examination fee as proposed by Charles 
Prentice, efforts to achieve licensure in the 
late 19th century, legal challenges and the 
formation of optometric associations. 

Later chapters explore the challenges 
faced by the profession to expand scope 
of practice and recognition of optometry 
as a specialized health care profession 
providing comprehensive eye care. 
This is perhaps the most valuable part 
of the book as many newer graduates 
may be unaware of how hard previous 
generations of optometrists had to fight 
for professional recognition. 

Lastly, the book has a thorough review 
of the development of optometry 
as a scholarly profession and covers 
such topics as the development and 
evolution of optometric education, the 
changing demographics of optometry 
students and optometric publications 
e.g., periodicals and books. Included in 
this section is a number of interesting 
appendices providing information on 
such topics as the number of optometry 
school graduates compared to the U.S. 
population, the percentage of women 
among entering optometry students, and 
the racial diversity of optometry students.

In summary, this book provides 
valuable context on the development of 

optometry as a profession with a detailed look at the development 
of the profession within the United States. I would highly 
recommend this book to optometry students and anyone in the 
optometric field interested in the development and evolution of 
the profession. 

BOOK REVIEW: FROM SPECTACLE MAKING TRADE TO 
SCHOLARLY PROFESSION, A HISTORY OF OPTOMETRY IN THE 
UNITED STATES 

T

From Spectacle Making Trade to Scholarly 
Profession, a History of Optometry in the 
United States. David A. Goss. Forest Grove, OR: 
Pacific University Press, 2022. ISBN-13: 978-
1945398063. 368 pages. Paperback.

Hilary Gaiser, O.D., MSc

Associate Professor of Optometry 
New England College of Optometry 
Boston, MA  

gaiserh@neco.edu

10.14434/hindsight.v55i2.40830

BOOK REVIEWS HILARY GAISER, O.D., MSC