Probably because of the more common word "dentist".
this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2023
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That's because it's shorter, eye doctor is slightly shorter and easier to say and spell than opthamologist
counterpoint: paediatrician.
Well you could just shorten it and call them a paedo.
I think the 'easier to say' part is the key thing here. "Pee-dee-atrition" is a lot easier for most English speakers that "op-tha-mologist". I think the "th" throws people off enough to just say "eye doc"
Funny, because in German it's exactly that: Tooth doctor (Zahnarzt).
Tierarzt sounds normal but animal doctor sounds weird
The one that always bothered me is Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Arzt. Why is it Nasen? We only have one. It should either be Hälse-Nasen-Ohren Arzt or Hals-Nase-Ohren-Arzt.
I assume it's for the same reason you say Nasendusche, Nasenrücken or Nasenbluten but Halsschmerzen or Halstuch (though I'm not sure what's the exact grammatical reason). It has nothing to do with the number of noses. I think it would be Augenarzt and not Augearzt even if we had only one eye.
Optician? I've never heard "eye doctor" here in the UK
Technically a general eye doctor would be an opthalmologist. An optician is someone who makes lenses. The person you see for an eye test at the opticians is an optometrist (someone who measures what strength lenses you need).
Don't be an anti-dentite
uh well where I live: https://emergencytoothdoctor.com/
they do in fact take care of emergencies too. They pulled a tooth for me on walk in.
Dentists and podiatrists don't go to med school in the US.