Optometrists diagnose and treat problems with the human eye and visual system. They prescribe corrective lenses, like contact lenses or glasses. They may prescribe drugs to treat specific eye conditions.

Daily Tasks / Routine Activities

People who work in this career often:

1. Fit eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other vision aids.

2. Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.

3. Treat acute illnesses, infections, or injuries.

4. Treat chronic diseases or disorders.

5. Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.

6. Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.

7. Monitor patients following surgeries or other treatments.

8. Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.

9. Prescribe assistive medical devices or related treatments.

10. Prescribe medications.

Typical Working Conditions

1. Having face-to-face discussions.

2. The importance of being accurate or exact.

3. Working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions.

4. Dealing with external customers.

5. Freedom to make decisions without supervision.

6. Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

7. Exposure to disease or infections.

8. Meeting strict deadlines.

9. High levels of work pressure.

Top Skills for Optometrists 

Reading—Reading work-related information.

Listening—Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

Thinking Critically—Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

Science—Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.

Speaking—Talking to others.

Learning New Things—Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.

Making Decisions—Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.

Being Aware of Others—Understanding people's reactions.

Helping Others—Looking for ways to help people.

Solving Complex Problems—Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

Key Knowledge Areas for Optometrists

Medicine and Dentistry—Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Customer and Personal Service—Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Biology—Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Psychology—Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Clerical—Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Mathematics—Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Administration and Management—Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Chemistry—Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

Therapy and Counseling—Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.