Optometrists are Doctors of Optometry, also known as O.D.s. They provide primary vision care and prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses. Over half of the population in the United States today requires glasses or contact lenses. Optometrists should not be confused with ophthalmologists, who are medical doctors who treat eye diseases and perform eye surgery, or with opticians, who dispense eyeglasses and contact lenses from prescriptions written by optometrists and ophthalmologists.

Duties, Activities, and Scope of Practice

Optometrists perform comprehensive exams on the external and internal structures of the eye and prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct vision problems. If they suspect disease or other medically related problems with the eye, they refer the patient to an ophthalmologist for follow-up care, or to other physicians as indicated.

They may prescribe topical or oral medications for certain eye conditions. They can also care for patients before and after cataract and laser vision-correction surgery. Optometrists also work with low-vision patients in a rehabilitative manner. Emergency treatment and first aid for eye injuries also come under their scope of practice.

Education and Training

Doctors of Optometry are graduates of an accredited four-year program. The first two years are spent primarily on classroom and laboratory courses, and the last two include clinical hands-on practice under the supervision of optometrists. This is also a postgraduate program and requires a minimum of three years of undergraduate college work. In most cases, applicants will have completed a bachelor's degree with an emphasis on sciences. Applicants must also take the Optometry Admissions Test. Admission is competitive.

Most optometrists are generalists, but some specialize in pediatrics, geriatrics, or low-vision care.

Licensure/Certification

All states and the District of Columbia require optometrists to be licensed. They must graduate from an accredited school of optometry and pass a written and practical state board exam. They take the National Board of Examiners in Optometry Exam during their academic study, and some states accept all or part of this for the written exam.

Licenses must be renewed periodically, usually every one to three years, and many states require continuing education in order to renew.

Work Settings and Salaries

Most optometrists work 40 hours per week with flexible evening and weekend hours to accommodate the needs of patients. Now that optometrists have medication-prescribing privileges, they have obligations to be on call for emergencies. The number of jobs outnumbers the number of practicing optometrists, and therefore many work two or more jobs. They may work in private practice or for vision centers, or both.

According to the American Optometric Association, approximately two-thirds of practicing optometrists are in private practice. Some are in solo practice, but a growing number are in partnerships or work in group practices. Some work in ophthalmologists' offices. The median income in 2004 was $88,410 for salaried optometrists, and for salaried combined with self-employed, the median was $114,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Career Potential and Additional Information

The vast majority of optometrists retire from the profession, and therefore new optometrists are needed to replace them. Growth potential between now and 2014 is expected to be as fast as the average occupation. As the population ages, vision changes are inevitable for most. Technology advances that will allow optometrists to see more patients in a day, and the use of optometric assistants, will keep the need for more optometrists in check somewhat.

Advances in laser surgery will reduce the need for glasses and contact lenses for more of the population, at least for several years at a stretch. Pre- and post-op care of these patients will still be needed, and optometrists are well qualified for this.

Contact the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry for more information about optometry as a career, as well as for information about accredited schools of optometry. For more information about optometry careers, contact the American Optometric Association.