Optometrists - CareerBuilder

Optometrists

Job details
About the work	Training qualifications	Job outlook	Earnings	Related links

			Check out another job

More than half of the people in the United States wear glasses or contact lenses. Optometrists provide most primary vision care.

Optometrists examine people's eyes to diagnose vision problems and eye diseases. They use instruments and observation to examine eye health and to test patients' visual acuity, depth and color perception and ability to focus and coordinate the eyes. Optometrists analyze test results and develop a treatment plan. Optometrists prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses and provide vision therapy and low vision rehabilitation. They administer drugs to patients to aid in the diagnosis of eye vision problems and prescribe drugs to treat some eye diseases. Optometrists often provide pre-operative and post-operative care to cataract, laser vision correction and other eye surgery patients. They also diagnose conditions from systemic diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and refer patients to other health practitioners as needed.

Optometrists should not be confused with ophthalmologists or dispensing opticians. Ophthalmologists are physicians who perform eye surgery and diagnose and treat eye diseases and injuries. Like optometrists, they also examine eyes and prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses. Dispensing opticians fit and adjust eyeglasses and in some states may fit contact lenses according to prescriptions written by ophthalmologists or optometrists.

Most optometrists are private practitioners who also handle running an office, developing a patient base, hiring employees, keeping records and ordering equipment and supplies. Optometrists who operate franchise optical stores also may have some of these duties.

Most full-time optometrists work about 40 hours a week. Many work Saturdays and evenings to suit the needs of patients. Emergency calls, once uncommon, have increased with the passage of therapeutic drug laws expanding optometrists' ability to prescribe medications.

Training and qualifications

All states and the District of Columbia require that optometrists be licensed. Applicants for a license must have a Doctor of Optometry degree from an accredited optometry school and pass both a written and a clinical state board examination. In many states, applicants can substitute the examinations of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, usually taken during the student's academic career, for part or all of the written examination. Licenses are renewed every one to three years and in all states, continuing education credits are needed for renewal.

The Doctor of Optometry degree requires completion of a 4-year program at an accredited optometry school preceded by at least three years of pre-optometric study at an accredited college or university (most optometry students hold a bachelor's or higher degree). Applicants must take the Optometry Admissions Test, which measures academic ability and scientific comprehension. Competition for admission is keen.

Business ability, self-discipline and the ability to deal tactfully with patients are important for success. The work of optometrists requires attention to detail and good manual dexterity.

Optometrists wishing to teach or do research may study for a master's or Ph.D. degree in visual science, physiological optics, neurophysiology, public health, health administration, health information and communication, or health education.

Job outlook

Employment of optometrists is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2010 in response to the vision care needs of a growing and aging population. As baby boomers age, they will be more likely to visit optometrists and ophthalmologists because of the onset of vision problems in middle age, including those resulting from the extensive use of computers. The demand for optometric services also will increase because of growth in the oldest age group, with their increased likelihood of cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes and hypertension. Employment of optometrists also will grow because of greater recognition of the importance of vision care, rising personal incomes and growth in employee vision care plans.

Employment of optometrists would grow more rapidly were it not for anticipated productivity gains that will allow each optometrist to see more patients. These expected gains stem from greater use of optometric assistants and other support personnel, who will reduce the amount of time optometrists need with each patient. Also, new surgical procedures using lasers are available that can correct some vision problems, but they remain expensive.

Earnings

Optometrists held about 31,000 jobs in 2000. The number of jobs is greater than the number of practicing optometrists because some optometrists hold two or more jobs. For example, an optometrist may have a private practice, but also work in another practice, clinic or vision care center. About two-thirds of practicing optometrists are in private practice.

Median annual earnings of salaried optometrists were $82,860 in 2000. Median annual earnings of salaried optometrists in 2000 were $89,460 in offices and clinics of medical doctors and $85,470 in offices of other health practitioners. Salaried optometrists tend to earn more initially than do optometrists who set up their own independent practice. In the long run, those in private practice usually earn more.