The Skills Required to Be an Optometrist
Doctors of optometry, or optometrists, diagnose vision problems and help people take care of their eyes. They prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses and may also work with vision therapy. As with other medical professions, optometrists typically work in private practice or in a group setting, as well as in hospitals, health management organizations and retail stores.
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Intelligence
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Optometrists must have a Doctor of Optometry degree to practice; this necessitates a four-year program at an accredited optometry school after earning an undergraduate degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, notes admission into these schools is competitive, and applicants should have a robust science background. This includes the successful completion of undergraduate science classes such as biology, physics and chemistry. Mathematics and English are important as well. As of 2007, only one out of every three optometry school applicants were accepted.
Test Taking Abilities
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Optometry school applicants must earn qualifying scores on the Optometry Admissions Test, OAT,
to be admitted to a program; the test may be taken more than once. Topics covered include biology, organic chemistry and general chemistry as well as quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension and physics. Prior to practicing, optometrists must pass both a written National Board examination and a separate national, regional or state clinical exam. Licenses need to be renewed every one to three years and continuing education is required to do so.
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Attention to Detail
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Eyes are intricate and delicate, and to work with them an optometrist must be precise. Optometrists need to understand the different types of equipment they work with as well as how to read medical charts, X-rays and other medical data.
Customer Service
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Because they are working with patients, optometrists should be calm, collected and have a friendly demeanor. They may have to give troubling news to patients and their families, and should be capable of doing so in a direct and kind manner. They should present themselves in a trustworthy, professional fashion that leaves patients feeling confident in their doctor of optometry.
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References
- Photo Credit retinascope and trial frame image by hazel proudlove from Fotolia.com
