Optometrist Career

Optometrist Job Description

The job description of an optometrist includes prescribing contact lenses, eye-glasses and added vision-aids or therapies to correct or protect vision. He confers with, and refers patients to ophthalmologists, if necessary required.

An optometrist also prescribes medications to treat eye ailments, if the State laws consent. He may concentrate on specific services, such as, eye-glasses, contact lenses, vision therapy, or treatment of certain groups - children or geriatric patients.

He may conduct research, address at colleges / universities, function as an eye consultant, or operate in the public-health division.

Optometrist Education, Certification and Training

• After attaining a Bachelor’s degree, you gain admittance in to an Optometry School.

• Some students gain admission in to an Optometry School after finishing 3 years of college; and they complete the Bachelor’s Degree at the same time as they attend the Optometry School. Alternatively, a greater part of the students are admitted after they have acquired an undergraduate degree.

• The program comprises of class room and laboratory training of visual and healthcare sciences, and clinical observation, to identify and manage eye diseases. Subjects include: optics, pharmacology, vision science, systemic diseases and bio-chemistry.

• 1 year Residency is offered for advanced clinical expertise. Fields of specialization are: Geriatric Optometry, Family Practice Optometry, Low-Vision Rehabilitation, Vision Therapy, Ocular Disease, Refractive and Ocular Surgery, Cornea and Contact Lenses, Pediatric Optometry and Primary Eye-Care Optometry.

• After acquiring a Doctor of Optometry degree and appearing for the National Board Exam and a National, State or Regional Medical Exam, you will be granted the licensure. A few States require the candidate to appear for an exam on the applicable State laws.

• Renewal of the license every 1 - 3 years is compulsory, and continued education credits are vital for the renewal.

• A PhD / master’s degree is mandated if you wish to conduct research or want to teach.

Optometrist Jobs

Optometrists’ jobs are estimated to show an upswing, thus making the job outlook appear very good. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has approximated that the number of job opportunities will grow enormously in the following years.

Optometrist Salary

The salary of an optometrist chiefly depend up on his education and qualifications, location, his area of expertise and experience. By and large, an optometrist earns about $96,320 per year.