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Optometrist - Career Profile |
Career OverviewMore than half of the population of the United States wears glasses or contact lenses to mitigate problems with their ability to see. Lenses in glasses and contacts are generally prescribed and secured by optometrists or doctors of optometry, referred to as ODs.
Optometrists are responsible for examining patients’ eyes and determining whether they have visual problems or eye diseases. They are also responsible, when they deem it necessary, for prescribing eye glasses and lenses.
They perform comprehensive examinations of the external and internal structures of the eye and use both subjective and objective tests to evaluate patient vision. They determine visual acuity, depth, and color perceptions. They also test the eye’s ability to focus and the patient’s ability to coordinate their vision.
The optometrist then forms a treatment plan based on an analysis of the eye examination and test results. Treatment may involve prescribing glasses or contact lenses or recommending visual therapy.
In most states, optometrists treat various eye diseases as well (this is in preference to regular physicians). The most common eye diseases reviewed by optometrists include conjunctivitis and corneal infections.
Optometrists may also test eye pressure for signs of glaucoma, another common disease of the eye.
Qualified optometrists have the authority to prescribe topical or oral drugs for various eye problems, including conjunctivitis. They are also able to make referrals to other medical professionals if they detect signs that a patient’s condition requires treatment that is outside of their scope; optometrists may, for example, refer patients with suspected cases of diabetes to physicians.
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Career RequirementsThe best route for training and education in optometry is via an accredited college or university program in the field. Students who want to enter optometry should seek admission to an accredited college or university and undertake at least one year of biology, chemistry, physics, math, and English to meet standard prerequisites for the professional training courses.
Applicants seeking admission to optometry schools must first pass the Optometry Admissions Test or OAT, which the Optometry Admission Testing Program administers.
The OAT is held three times a year; in February, April, and October at a number of centers across the country. The tests measure general academic ability and science knowledge. There results are reviewed in the context of students’ undergraduate records and recommendations to determine whether they are desirable candidates for admission to optometry courses.
The programs of study at most optometry schools span a four year period. Courses include basic medical sciences, such as anatomy, biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and pathology, and optics, visual sciences, and clinical techniques.
During the third and fourth year of study, most students undertake considerable amounts of supervised training so that they become competent at patient care, both primary and specialist.
All states require that optometrists are licensed and licensure requires graduate from an accredited college of optometry, in addition to the successful completion of a written and clinical examination.
For more information about requirements for entry and practice in the field, contact the following organizations:
The American Optometric Association
243, N. Lindbergh Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63141
www.aoanet.org
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
6110, Executive Blvd.,
Suite 510,
Rockville, MD 20852
www.opted.org
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Job OutlookFor the most part, employment opportunities for optometrists are expected to grow in the next decade at an average rate, corresponding somewhat to the aging of the US population.
A substantial segment of the population over the age of 45 are expected to require increased vision care and a greater awareness of the importance of vision care plans will enhance the employment opportunities for optometrists in general.
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Career TrackOptometrists can advance to managerial positions in larger establishments. Specialization in family practice, pediatrics, geriatrics, or vision therapy for ocular diseases may undertake post-graduate residency programs, geared towards the achievement of a PhD degree in visual science, physiological optics, or neuron physiology of the eye, depending on the particular specialization.
Most optometrists work in private offices, either as individuals or as partners or groups. Some are employed by vision care centers based in store fronts. An even smaller portion are employed by hospitals, HMOS, ophthalmologists, or other optometrists.
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CompensationStandard compensation for optometrists ranges between $75,000 and $125,000 per year depending upon experience and the precise nature of the job. Additional benefits may include paid vacations, medical and dental insurance, and disability insurance.
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