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Optometrists, or doctors of optometry (ODs'), provide vision care services to help people preserve and improve their vision.  

JOB DUTIES  

Optometrists may:  

Examine eyes and related structures to determine visual performance and efficiency and to detect eye diseases and other abnormalities  

Refer patients with visual pathology or systemic disease to licensed physicians for further diagnosis and treatment  

Diagnose the probable cause of defective vision  

Test eyes for proper depth and color perception  

Analyze patient's ability to focus and coordinate eye movements  

Measure peripheral (side) vision  

Prescribe corrective procedures which do not require prescription drugs (varies from state to state) or surgery, such as the use of lenses, prisms, and exercises or other forms of vision therapy  

Prescribe and supply eyeglasses  

Fit and adjust contact lenses  

Refer patients with eye disease to ophthalmologists (medical doctors who specialize in the treatment of eye diseases and injuries)  

Refer patients in need of general health services to other medical practitioners  

Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases

Click here to view an Optometrist at work!

  The tools and equipment used may include:

• Phoroptors (used to determine the proper corrective lens)

• Retinoscopes (used to determine the strength of the lens needed)

• Computerized refractors (to measure refraction of the eye)

• Keratometer (used to measure corneal curvature)

• Ophthalmoscopes (used to view the interior of the eye)

• Tonometers (used for measuring eye pressure)

• Visual field instruments (for vision defects & nerves)

• Slit lamp biomicroscope (used to examine exterior & interior eye

          structures for diseases or other abnormalities)  

Technology used in this occupation includes:

 OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES  

Optometrists may specialize in these areas:  

079.101-018 OPTOMETRISTS provide vision care services to help people preserve and improve their vision. They make examinations to detect vision problems, eye diseases, and other abnormal conditions affecting vision. They may specialize in treating children or the aged, in vision training and therapy, contact lenses, visual safety of industrial workers, or rehabilitation of the partially sighted. They also may conduct research, teach in a college or university, act as a consultant, or work in the public health field.  

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following Career Exploration Scripts:  

  WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS  

Over two-thirds of practicing Optometrists are in practice by themselves. Others are in partnerships or group practices with other Optometrists or health professionals as part of a health care team. Most optometric care is provided in a comfortable, professional office atmosphere. Their work is relatively hazard-free.  

Optometrists usually work between 31 and 45 hours per week, including 1/2 day Saturdays, with one day off during the week. Some Optometrists may work longer hours and evenings to accommodate their patients. Optometrists who are not self-employed usually work a normal 40-hour week.  

According to one source, the cost of equipment and furniture necessary for opening a private optometric practice would start at about $75,000. The total cost may add up to $150,000 or more if other expenditures such as staffing, utilities, and insurance are included. This total may prevent beginning Optometrists from immediately establishing their own practices.  

Optometrists in Michigan may belong to the Michigan Optometric Association which is affiliated with the American Optometric Association and pay periodic membership dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Activities of a scientific and technical nature

• Activities involving business contact to help people

• Activities resulting in esteem from others

You Should Be Able To:

• Reason logically

• Communicate well in speech and writing

• Use arithmetic quickly and accurately

• Work agreeably with others

• Base decisions on standards which can be measured or checked

• See details in pictures or charts

• See differences in shapes/shadings/measurements of lines and figures

• Visualize drawings or pictures in three dimensions

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:  

If a man focuses on a point on the wall 2 meters away and can see two meters from that point out the corner of his eye, what is his angle of peripheral vision?  

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:  

On the back interior wall of the eyeball is a light-sensitive surface called the retina. From the retina, the optic nerve relays signals to the brain.  

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:  

You should be able to write a report concerning the testing results of a patient that suffers from cataracts.  

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:  

You should be able to decide the best way to alleviate any eye problem.  

The State of Michigan requires a license for this occupation.  Click here for "Michigan Licensed Occupations," see Optometrist for specific licensing information.  

  EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OP PORT UNITIES  

NOTE: A Doctor of Optometry Degree requires at least six years of postsecondary training. A minimum of two to three years of pre-optometric training is required after high school before admission to a Professional Optometry program. However, most students first obtain a bachelor's degree.

Most states, including Michigan, require that applicants for license renewal keep informed of new developments and techniques by taking continuing education courses each year.  

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in this Career Exploration script:  

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***  

0700 CAREERS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 1800 HEALTH & HEALTH CAREERS , 2200 MATH , 2900 SCIENCE , 3300 TECHNOLOGY  

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***  

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this Career Exploration script.  

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***  

124 OPTOMETRY  

Programs in Optometry provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed to examine, diagnose, and treat conditions of the vision system. The scope of Optometry today is broader than measuring vision and prescribing glasses or contact lenses. Pediatric and geriatric vision problems as well as environmental aspects of vision are receiving special attention and study.  

Courses within this program may include:  

The most common requirements for entering Optometry programs are completing pre-professional courses at an accredited college or university, taking the Optometry College Admission Test (OCAT), and completing application forms. Student selection is based upon high school, college, and pre-professional course grades, academic aptitude, OCAT results, recommendations, and personal interviews.  

125 OPTOMETRY (PRE-PROFESSIONAL)  

Pre-Optometry Programs provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills required for admission to optometry schools.  

Many Michigan colleges and universities offer pre-professional programs that may satisfy the prerequisites for admission to a college of Optometry. Prospective students should contact the college of their choice for admission requirements and consult their school's pre-professional advisor to ensure that admission pre-requisites are met.  

Pre-professional courses generally include:  

The most common requirements for entering a community college are a high school diploma, or GED, or being at least 18 years old and completing application forms. In addition, entering a college or university may require graduation from high school in a college preparatory program, a grade point average acceptable to the school to which you apply, and passing entrance examinations.  

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program  

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***  

There are no Apprenticeships related to this Career Exploration script.  

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***  

Please check the Military web site at  http://www.myfuture.com.

 OPTOMETRISTS  

Eye care is part of the full health coverage provided to military personnel. The most common eye problem is the need for corrective lenses. Optometrists examine eyes and treat vision problems by prescribing glasses or contact lenses. They refer patients with eye diseases to ophthalmologists (eye medical doctors).  

What They Do  

Optometrists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Check patient vision using eye charts

• Examine eyes for glaucoma and other diseases

• Measure patient nearsightedness, farsightedness, depth perception, and other vision problems using optical instruments

• Prescribe corrective lenses

• Prescribe training exercises to strengthen weak eye muscles

• Instruct patients on how to wear and care for contact lenses

Special Requirements  

A doctor of optometry degree and a state license to practice optometry are required to enter this occupation.  

Helpful Attributes  

Helpful Attributes include:

• Preference for working closely with people

• Desire to help others

• Interest in work requiring accuracy and attention to detail  

Work Environment

Optometrists work in clinics and hospitals.  

Training Provided  

No initial job training is provided to officers in this occupation. The Army has a program to provide financial support to optometry students in return for a period of obligated service.  

Civilian Counterparts  

Most civilian optometrists work in private practice. Some work for hospitals, clinics, public health agencies, or optical laboratories. Civilian optometrists perform duties similar to those performed in the military.  

Opportunities  

The exact number of Optometrist employed with the military is unknown. Newly commissioned optometrists are assigned to clinics or hospitals. In time, they may advance to senior management positions in the health service field.   

E-Learning Courses and Programs    

  OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY  

Since Optometrists are highly skilled professionals, there are few ways to explore this occupation. A good way to observe the work is through a job as an optometric assistant or technician. Experience may be gained through the work-study portion of a postsecondary program or in military service.  

School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

 mentorships  

job shadowing experiences  

touring a local Optometrist employer

internships  

volunteer work with a Optometrist employer  

community service work with an agency  

Optometrists can start their own practice or apply for positions in group or partnership practices, in private industry, civil service, or public health service. Assistance is available from placement offices of schools or colleges of optometry, national optometric associations or their affiliates in Michigan, or by consulting professional publications. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:  

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

  EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT  

Earnings of Optometrists depend on their management abilities, the size and income of the community in which they practice, their length of time in practice, and their type of practice.  

Nationally, in 2007, the median net income of Optometrists in sole practice was $119,196 per year. Expenses such as rent, staff and personnel, and laboratory costs were about 54% of the annual gross income.  

Those employed by the federal government started at $57,088 per year (2008), with chief Optometrists earning up to $145,500 annually. The salaries of these federal government workers may be higher in some urban areas.

 The median yearly earnings of "all" workers in the U.S. were $36,140 in 2007.  

Optometrists who were employed by hospitals and related health facilities earned (2007) between $92,000 and $123,300, with the average of $104,500 per year.  

Self-employed Optometrists must provide for their own retirement and insurance plans. Most salaried Optometrists receive paid vacations and holidays; life, accident, disability, and hospitalization insurance; retirement plans; and sick pay. These benefits are usually paid for, at least in part, by employers.  

Some Optometrists take salaried positions to obtain the experience and funds necessary to set up their own practice. Beginning Optometrists may also enter into an associate practice with another Optometrist or health professional, purchase an established practice, or set up a new practice. Some Optometrists may specialize after studying for an advanced degree in physiological optics, neurophysiology, public health administration, health information and communication, or health education. Optometrists employed by universities, optical manufacturers, government health agencies, or hospitals may advance according to procedures established by the employers.

  EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK  

Nationally, about 32,700 practicing Optometrists were employed in 2006. Employment in this occupation is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2016 because of population growth, recognition of the importance of vision care, and an increase in prepaid vision care plans. In addition, the use of computers and video display terminals is a suspected cause of eyestrain and other vision disorders and is likely to increase the demand for vision care services. The number of new graduates from U.S. Schools of optometry is expected to increase a great deal in coming years. About 25.5% of Optometrists were self-employed. The industry distribution for Optometrists looked like this:  

To find employers, click Employer/Business Locator.

Replacement needs arise almost entirely from retirements and deaths because optometrists, like other health practitioners, have a strong attachment to their profession and generally remain in practice until they stop working altogether. Few transfer to other occupations. Because a high proportion of all active Optometrists are nearing retirement age, it is expected that a large number of Optometrists will be replaced during this decade. Women are continuing to enter the profession of optometry in increasing numbers.  

There were about 1,375 licensed Optometrists in Michigan in early 2008. Many Optometrists operated their own offices or shared an office or building with another Optometrist or other professional workers. Other Optometrists were employed by health clinics, hospitals, optical instrument manufacturers, optical retail outlets, and department stores.  

Employment of Optometrists in Michigan is expected to increase about as fast as the average through the year 2014. An average of 50 annual openings is expected, with 10 due to growth and 40 due to replacement of those who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons.  Additional openings will occur as workers change jobs or occupations.  

New and innovative eye surgery techniques such as LASIK, to correct nearsightedness, have improved, resulting in more people opting for eye corrective surgery over glasses.  As the Food & Drug Administration approves newer techniques for eye surgery with the advent of Crystalens & Verisyse lenses, the need for glasses and contact lenses will become obsolete.  A demand for Optometrists will result from an aging population and office workers, who are most likely to need vision care.  

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  SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION  

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.

Copyright © 2008 Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth