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of Additional Information Significant Points More than half of the people in the United States wear glasses
or contact lenses. Optometrists, also known as doctors of optometry,
or ODs, 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 preoperative
and postoperative care to cataract, laser vision correction, and
other eye surgery patients. They also diagnose conditions due to
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 in general practice. Some specialize in work
with the elderly, children, or partially sighted persons who need
specialized visual devices. Others develop and implement ways to
protect workers' eyes from on-the-job strain or injury. Some specialize
in contact lenses, sports vision, or vision therapy. A few teach
optometry, perform research, or consult. Most optometrists are private practitioners who also handle the
business aspects of running an office, such as 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. Optometrists work in places - usually their own offices - which
are clean, well-lighted, and comfortable. 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. 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. According to the American Optometric
Association, about two-thirds of practicing optometrists are in
private practice. Although many optometrists practice alone, a growing number are
in a partnership or group practice. Some optometrists work as salaried
employees of other optometrists or of ophthalmologists, hospitals,
health maintenance organizations (HMOs), or retail optical stores.
A small number of optometrists are consultants for industrial safety
programs, insurance companies, manufacturers of ophthalmic products,
HMOs, and others. 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 1 to 3 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 3
years of preoptometric study at an accredited college or university
(most optometry students hold a bachelor's or higher degree). In
2000, 17 U.S. schools and colleges of optometry held an accredited
status with the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of
the American Optometric Association. Requirements for admission to schools of optometry include courses
in English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. A few
schools require or recommend courses in psychology, history, sociology,
speech, or business. Applicants must take the Optometry Admissions
Test, which measures academic ability and scientific comprehension.
Most applicants take the test after their sophomore or junior year.
Competition for admission is keen. Optometry programs include classroom and laboratory study of health
and visual sciences, as well as clinical training in the diagnosis
and treatment of eye disorders. Courses in pharmacology, optics,
vision science, biochemistry, and systemic disease are included. 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. One-year postgraduate clinical residency programs
are available for optometrists who wish to specialize in family
practice optometry, pediatric optometry, geriatric optometry, vision
therapy, contact lenses, hospital-based optometry, primary care
optometry, or ocular disease. 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 due to 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. Optometrists will
still be needed to perform pre-operative and post-operative care
for laser surgery; however, patients who successfully undergo this
surgery may not require optometrists to prescribe glasses or contacts
for several years. In addition to growth, the need to replace optometrists who leave
the occupation will create employment opportunities. Relatively
few opportunities from this source are expected, however, because
optometrists usually continue to practice until they retire; few
transfer to other occupations. Median annual earnings of salaried optometrists were $82,860 in
2000. The middle 50 percent earned between $60,310 and $111,520.
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. According to the American Optometric Association, median net income
for all optometrists in private practice ranged from about $115,000
to $120,000 in 2000. Workers in other occupations who apply scientific knowledge to
prevent, diagnose, and treat disorders and injuries are chiropractors,
dentists, physicians and surgeons, podiatrists, speech-language
pathologists and audiologists, and veterinarians. For more information on optometry as a career and a list of accredited
optometric educational institutions, contact: Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry Additional career information is available from: American Optometric Association The Board of Optometry in each State can supply information on
licensing requirements. For information on specific admission requirements
and sources of financial aid, contact the admissions officer of
individual optometry schools.Optometrists
Nature of the Work
Working Conditions
Employment
Training, Other Qualifications,
and Advancement
Job Outlook
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Sources of Additional Information
6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 510
Rockville , MD 20852
Internet: http://www.opted.org
Educational Services
243 North Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis , MO 63141-7881
Internet: http://www.aoanet.org
