Optometrist
Job Description
An optometrist provides primary medical and health care for the eye, ranging from certain types of surgery to vision therapy, prescribing medications, carrying out low vision rehabilitation, and writing prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses.
Optometrists diagnose and treat eye injuries, problems, and diseases, and can also pinpoint systemic problems (like diabetes) causing eye disorders that require treatment by other specialists.
Responsibilities
Optometrists provide counseling to patients regarding treatments, whether non-surgical or surgical. When surgery is needed, they handle both pre- and post-operative care. While optometrists carry out some surgical procedures, they usually refer patients to ophthalmologists for surgical treatments. Likewise, while they prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses after testing a patient's vision, the prescription is actually filled by a dispensing optician.
Optometrists often enjoy the benefits of profitable and successful self-employment, and suffer less stress than other medical specialists thanks to their regular hours and the high cure rate of the disorders they treat.
Skills
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Critical Thinking |
Must think of alternative solutions to complex problems as they arise. |
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Understand Complex Medical Data |
Must be able to know how to manipulate complex medical data and know how to decipher it. |
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Complex Problem Solving |
Must be able to solve complex problems by reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options. |
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Analysis |
Must be able to analyze different situations to determine outcomes or solve issues. |
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Detail-Oriented |
Pay attention to detail so as to determine any problems and fix them or to discover things many others wouldn't notice |
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Communication |
Be able to work and communicate with people on your team to solve problems and create positive outcomes. |
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Math & Science |
Must be able to use math to solve complex problems. Must have a strong scientific background to know natural processes and how they can be manipulated. |
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Systems Analysis and Evaluation |
Must know how a system should work and how changes in its operations and conditions can affect outcomes. Must be able to evaluate the issues and fix their problems |
Working Conditions
Most optometrists have their own offices, where they work independently, generally on a 40 hour weekly schedule.
Since these offices are set up as a comfortable environment for patients and workers, an optometrist works in clean, well-lit, attractively furnished surroundings.
Accommodating clients' schedules is important, so many optometrists offer evening and Saturday hours.
With new therapeutic medicine laws permitting optometrists to prescribe drugs, emergency and after-hour calls are becoming much more common.
Salary Outlook
| Estimated Annual Salary | Average Hourly Wage | Positions Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| $118,000.00 | $56.73 | 41,000 |