Duties and Responsibilities
They are licensed to conduct examination on people’s eyes. Optometrist duties include
giving diagnoses to problems such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. Among the
Optometrist duties are to determine conditions causing vision problems such as diabetes
and high blood pressure. They also test patients for vision coordination, eye focus
and depth/color perception, and other diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, among
others. Optometrists prescribe eyeglasses, contact lenses or special vision devises
for industrial purposes, or provide vision therapy to correct low vision problems.
They refer patients to other medical practitioners such as ophthalmologists, internal
medicine or other medical specialists such as on diabetes and high blood for further
treatment of diseases causing eye and vision problems. Administer drugs in aid of
diagnosing the vision problem or treat eye diseases. An Optometrist can provide
preoperative or postoperative care to cataract patients. Can do certain kinds of
surgery such as laser treatment limited to some States only).
Work Environment
Optometrists work usually in a sanitary environment. They work in clinics, laboratory
and offices - usually owned by them - which operate in business centers where patients
could easily access. They work more than forty hours a week and respond to emergency
calls as needed. More hours are spent by solo practitioners as they also take care
of administrative matters.
Employment Opportunities
Optometrist opportunities are available in health care and optical centers or stores;
offices of optometrists, physicians such as ophthalmologists; hospitals. Many of
them can private practice and own their own optical laboratories and stores. Some
work as independent contractors or consultants, researcher and teacher.
How much does a Optometrist make - Optometrist Salary and Wages
Optometrists could hold multiple jobs, unless they are restricted by their employers.
Beginners in the profession earn as much as $74,410. Those in their first to fourth
year earn an average of $81,110. Those in the business for more than twenty years
are earning about $100,931.
By the hour, a young Optometrist salary range falls around $40.10, which is just
23% lower than those in the profession for twenty-years or more. The bonus also
have an attractive Optometrist salary range. On the first year, they get no less
that $4,000 as bonus, which is just 27% lower than those who are in the profession
for twenty-years get. As for commissions, they get as much as $5,000 to $13,000
in a span of twenty years.
Since most of them operate their own offices and clinics they seem to have less
opportunities for vacation. During the first year they could get as much as a nine
days. Those in the business for twenty years and more could have around three weeks
a year.
How to become a Optometrist
Educational and Training
An Optometrist degree is called a Doctor of Optometry, which can be obtained from
an accredited optometry school by passing the exams administered by the National
Board Examiners in Optometry. In some States they require a candidate to pass the
national, regional or State clinical licensure examinations, depending upon requirement
of the State Laws. Continuing education is required to earn credits, which are needed
for the renewal of licenses done very one to three years.
Common Optometrist courses in college include general biology, inorganic chemistry,
organic chemistry, general physics, microbiology, calculus, statistics, speech,
and general psychology.
Other Qualifications and Skills
The work requires knowledge and Optometrist skills in business administration and
customer relations. It also requires self-disciple to be able to work longer hours
and attend to details of the job. As a specialist, an optometrist is required to
uphold medical ethics to fulfill Optometrist qualifications.
Advancement
Optometrists could embark on research or post-graduate studies in health administration,
visual science, neurophysiology, public health, health information, research, or
physicological optics. They may further study Opthalmology.
You can find information concerning online Optometrist degrees and jump start your
Optometrist career by checking out the online colleges and degrees below.
Optometrist Resources
AOA - American Optometric Association