Optometrists are readily accessible to most of Missouri residents.
Optometrists practice in 103 of Missouri's 114 counties and the City of St. Louis. As primary eye care practitioners, optometrists are widely distributed throughout the state. In a state where there is a shortage of primary health care providers, doctors of optometry are helping fill a need. Thousands of Missourians are able to access their primary eye care locally, saving them needless suffering and the expense and burden of traveling many miles to see a more distant eye care professional.