Optometrist Guide | Explore Optometry Career Path

Also called: Doctor of Optometry (OD), Optometrist, Optometrist, Owner, Optometrist, President/Practice Owner, Optometrist/Practice Owner

Optometrist Guide | Explore Optometry Career Path

Varies

estimated salary

Optometrists diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Examine eyes and visual system, diagnose problems or impairments, prescribe corrective lenses, and provide treatment. May prescribe therapeutic drugs to treat specific eye conditions.

 

  • Examine eyes, using observation, instruments, and pharmaceutical agents, to determine visual acuity and perception, focus, and coordination and to diagnose diseases and other abnormalities, such as glaucoma or color blindness.
  • Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.
  • Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.
  • Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.
  • Remove foreign bodies from the eye.
  • Prescribe therapeutic procedures to correct or conserve vision.
  • Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, and safety factors.
  • Consult with and refer patients to ophthalmologist or other health care practitioner if additional medical treatment is determined necessary.
  • Provide patients undergoing eye surgeries, such as cataract and laser vision correction, with pre- and post-operative care.
  • Provide vision therapy and low-vision rehabilitation.
Work Context
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 96% responded "Every day".
  • Telephone — 79% responded "Every day".
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 79% responded "Extremely important".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 92% responded "Every day".
  • Contact With Others — 66% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Deal With External Customers — 70% responded "Extremely important".
  • Physical Proximity — 74% responded "Very close (near touching)".
  • Read More
Work Activities
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Read More
Detailed Work Activities
  • Test patient vision.
  • Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
  • Develop medical treatment plans.
  • Fit eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other vision aids.
  • Prescribe assistive medical devices or related treatments.
  • Prescribe medications.
  • Read More

Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry
  • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Biology
  • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Read More

Skills

Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Science
  • Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Read More

Abilities

Near Vision
  • The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Inductive Reasoning
  • The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Deductive Reasoning
  • The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Read More

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
Read More

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Accounting software
  • Intuit QuickBooks Hot Technology
Data base user interface and query software
  • Microsoft Access Hot Technology
  • Microsoft SQL Server Hot Technology
Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
Read More

Education

Get started on your career:

Job Outlook

New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
NA
NA
NA