Our eyes are one of the main organs in the body. As we grow older, our vision starts to deteriorate, and some types of eye diseases also start cropping up. The work of an optometrist specialist is to conduct eye tests and determine the changes in the vision, checks for ocular diseases, and based on the test results, suggest contact lenses or spectacles. An optometrist also offers advice and refers patients for more treatment in extensive eye-care hospitals. If you are planning to pursue a career in the field of optometry and here is some useful information you need to have.
Length of Study to Become an Optometrist Specialist
For pursuing a career in optometry, you need to study a relevant graduate course in a college or university for three years. During this period, you have to do some clinical training as well. Once you have passed all the exams, you need to get registered with the relevant authorities in your country or region. After this, you can go for further qualifications in your particular areas of interest.
Course Needed to Become an Optometrist
To become an optometrist specialist, you need to complete the degree of Doctor of Optometry (OD) from a recognised college or university. After completing the course, you will have to undergo some medical training that is offered by the medical college itself, or else you do it on your own from an eye care institute after passing the course. Then you can apply for a license of a state in which you want to pursue your profession.
Career Options Available for an Optometrist Specialist
As far as career options in optometry are concerned, here are some of the career options you can choose from after completing a course in optometry:
Dispensing optician: These are specialists who prescribe spectacles to the customers, conduct eye tests, and also listen to the problems faced by the patients related to their vision. If you undergo more training, you will also get the license to suggest and fit contact lenses to patients.
Ophthalmic medical practitioner: To become an ophthalmic medical practitioner, you need to complete a post-graduation degree and training in ophthalmology. Similar to an optometrist, they can conduct eye tests, check for abnormalities, and prescribe contact lenses and spectacles to the patients.
Job Growth in the Field
There are different types of prospects you can go for after completing studies in the field. Here are a few of them:
Become a professional and open your eye clinic
If you don’t want to work as a salaried person, then it is best to open your own clinic. But it is suggested that after passing the degree, you must gain some work experience by working in a renowned eye hospital or optical care centre. This will give you the necessary experience to become an independent optometrist specialist.
Get employed with an eye hospital or eye-care unit
Here, you work as a salaried professional with a company. The salary in the optometry field is also lucrative. If you talk about career growth, then you can expect to get a 10-15% annual hike based on your performance. This is highly competitive to other sectors as well. With the addiction to digital devices increasing each day, most people might encounter eye problems and visit an optometrist.
Important Skills Required Growing as an Optometrist Specialist
Like any other career, you need to have some set of skills in order to become an optometrist specialist too. Here are some of them:
- Decision making skills, as you will be suggesting and prescribing patients
- Giving attention to details, as you will have to find out the root cause of the eye problem for the patient
- Communication skills, as you will need to communicate effectively and in a simple language with the patient.
Career in optometry is highly demanding due to a lack of good quality professionals in the field, but if you want to pursue a career in it, it can offer immense career growth. So, why not try your hands at it?
John Smith 