What Are the Types of Jobs in Optometry?
Optometrists are eye doctors who diagnose vision problems and correct them with contact lenses, eyeglasses, and in some states, medication. Most optometrists who run their own practice also do all of the business paperwork to keep track of the finances of the operation. Even if you are an optometrist working for a franchise, you may be required to keep track of the store's finances. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there were about 33,000 optometrists in the United States in 2006.
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Types
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All optometrists provide vision care and most have general practices that treat any eye problems. However, there are a number of specialties that you can go into, including working with senior citizens, children and athletes. Some optometrists work to improve workplace safety and others may focus on furthering the field of optometry through research. Optometrists can also chose to attend additional schooling to specialize in a variety of areas including low-vision rehabilitation, cornea and contact lenses, refractive and ocular surgery, and ocular disease.
Education
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Becoming an optometrist requires an advanced doctor of optometry (OD) degree. Though you can be accepted to optometry school after only 3 years of undergraduate study, acceptance to optometry school is very selective so most people complete their undergraduate degree before applying. Those who are accepted spend 4 years in optometry school. To get your license when you finish, you must past a national board and a state exam as well as a clinical evaluation.
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Advancement
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To advance in the optometry field, you usually need additional schooling such as an additional master's or even a doctorate depending on what route you want your career to take. If you are focusing on becoming head of a department at a hospital, you would be more likely to benefit from a master's in health care administration; if you want to go into research, you should study for advanced degrees like visual science or physiological optics.
Job Outlook
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the number of optometrists to increase by just over 10 percent between 2006 and 2016. The growth will be driven by an aging population as well as more insurance policies covering vision care. However, growth will be limited because new technology allows optometrists to treat more patients each day.
Jobs with the federal government include both civilian and military opportunities, with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and with the prison system. Jobs in private employment include self-employment, hospital-based care, working for large corporations, working with laser surgeons, and practicing in small offices in association with opticians.
Misconceptions
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The Bureau of Labor classifies optometrists as separate from ophthalmologists or dispensing opticians. Ophthalmologists can perform the same functions as optometrists but can also perform surgical procedures on the eyes to correct diseases and deficiencies. Dispensing opticians only give out and adjust glasses and contact lenses that have been prescribed by optometrists and ophthalmologists.
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