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Optometrist Career

Optometrist Job Description

An optometrist prescribes contact lenses, eye glasses and other vision aids or treatment procedures to rectify or preserve vision. He consults with, and refers patients to ophthalmologists and other healthcare professionals, when required.

He may also prescribe drugs to manage eye disorders, if the state laws allow. An optometrist may focus in specific types of services, like, contact lenses, eye glasses, low vision aids or vision therapy, or treatment of particular groups, like children or geriatric patients.

He may also carry out research, lecture at colleges / universities, act as a consultant, or work in the public health sector.

Optometrist Skills/Duties

Optometrists examine people's eyes and treat various disorders related to vision. By and large, they do that by prescribing contact lenses or eye glasses to correct the vision or protect further deterioration. The optometrist may also prescribe medicines to treat the problem.

They examine and evaluate the patients' eyes for signs of disease, injury, trauma, etc. They investigate whether the patient is healthy, in order to make sure that the eye defect or ailment is not a cumulative result of another health problem.

He may also refer the patients to ophthalmologists and doctors. He will maintain case records and patient information accurately.

Self-discipline, good business acumen, and the ability to handle patients tactfully are important skills. The work of optometrists also needs great attention to detail and manual dexterity and deftness.

Optometrist Education and Training

• After completing your Bachelor’s degree, you can gain admission in to an optometry school. Admission in to an optometry school is cutthroat. You have to appear for an Optometry Admission Exam, which evaluates the academic aptitude and comprehension.

• A few students are taken in to an optometry school after they finish 3 years of college and they finish their Bachelor’s Degree while at the optometry school. On the other hand, the majority of students admitted in to an optometry school have obtained an undergraduate degree.

• The coursework includes classroom and laboratory education of visual and health sciences and clinical practice to learn identification and management of eye diseases. Subjects taught are: optics, pharmacology, vision science, systemic diseases and biochemistry.

• Residency programs (1 year) are also provided for optometrists for higher clinical proficiency. Specialty areas are: Family Practice Optometry, Geriatric Optometry, Pediatric Optometry, Vision Therapy, Low-Vision Rehabilitation, Refractive and Ocular Surgery, Cornea and Contact Lenses, Ocular Disease and Primary Eye Care Optometry.

• After attaining a Doctor of Optometry degree from a qualified optometry school and passing the National Board Examination and a National, State or Regional clinical exam, you will be given the license. Many States need the applicant to pass an exam on applicable State laws.

• Renewal of the licenses every 1 to 3 years is necessary, and continuing the education credits is essential for renewal.

• Optometrists who wish to carry out research / teach have to obtain a PhD or a master’s degree.

Optometrist Job Outlook

The job outlook for optometrists looks very good. BSL has projected that the number of jobs will grow tremendously in the coming years.

Optometrist Salary

The salary of an optometrist largely depends on education and training, where his practice is situated, his specialty and experience. On an average, an optometrist earns about $96,320 annually.