Doctor of Optometry or Optometrist

Updated On: 12-Feb-2023

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An optometrist is a person skilled in examining patients' eyes, conducting vision tests, and diagnosing and treating sight problems. The main responsibilities of an optometrist include examining patients of all ages to detect vision defects, diseases, or injuries; producing reports that detail patients' visual exam histories to supply the best care; providing advice to patients who may need lenses or frames; and writing referrals to other vision specialists when appropriate.

Also Check: Career opportunities in Health Care

Job and responsibilities of an Optometrist:

An Optometrist typically does the following:

Perform vision tests and analyze results
Diagnose sight problems and eye diseases
Prescribe eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other visual aids
Perform minor surgical procedures to treat the vision problems
Provide the pre and post operative care to patients undergoing eye surgery
Evaluate patients for the presence of other diseases and conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension and refer to the related health care specialist

A bachelor's degree in Optometry is a must pursue this career, to pursue the bachelor's degree one need to clear the 10+2 from a recognized institution with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as main subjects and minimum 50% marks in aggregate. The degree course is about 4 years.

Strong Communication Skills
Active Listener: Must be an active listener to understand the patient problems
Decision Making: Evaluate the results of a variety of diagnostic tests and decide on the best course of treatment
Service Orientation: A desire to help others and improve people's quality of life
Detail Oriented: They must ensure that patients receive appropriate treatment and that medication and prescriptions are accurate.
Critical Thinking: It'll help to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
Problem solving skills
Active learning: A great optometrist stays up to date with scientific research and technological development and pursue continue education opportunities

The average salary (payscale) for an Optometrist is Rs 284,736 per year. Experience has a moderate effect on pay for this job.The optometrists have diverse job opportunities available in front of them. They can operate on an independent basis by establishing their own eye clinic, optical shop, lens manufacturing unit, etc. They can also work with Optician showrooms, Eye doctors, contact Lens and Ophthalmic lens industry, hospital Eye departments, etc. Optometrists can also seek employment with any multinational organization dealing with eye care products as professional services executives or take up teaching as a career.