Optometrist Job Description

· Jul 16th, 2025 · Comments Off on Optometrist Job Description
An optometrist job description explains an eye doctor. His job is to examine the patients’ eyes and test their sight. After the examination, his job is to give his patient advises on his visual problems and if needed, he can prescribe fit spectacles or contact lenses. All optometrists are trained to recognize eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataract or some general health conditions like the diabetes. In some cases they may share the care of patients with the other health workers if there are patients with chronic diseases. Sharing such cases may involve the use of specialist equipment.

Generally all optometrists work is highly practiced, which means they work either independently or as a part of the regional or national field. Only a few of them may be found working in hospitals or in the other healthcare facilities. Some of them work in the academic settings teaching other students, doing research or working in the optical manufacturing industry.

optometrist job description - Optometrist works in his officeWork activities

The optometrists work activities may involve:

  • Daily communication with patients over their case history
  • Patient’s eye examination and detecting the signs of injury, abnormality, vision defects or disease
  • Examining the patient’s general health conditions to detect any signs or symptoms of chronic disease such as diabetes
  • Usage of specialist equipment for diagnosing or testing
  • Prescriptions for spectacles
  • Prescriptions for contact lenses
  • Consultation with his patients in order to decide if the prescribed lenses fit and correct their vision defects
  • Offering daily advises and reassurance related to vision matters
  • Helping patients to choose comfortable frames or lenses
  • Communication with other doctors related with solving health issues for his patients
  • Sharing the care for patients who are with chronic ophthalmic conditions
  • Continued education and training is what every optometrist should do

Some optometrists who work in large facilities may be involved in:

  • Managing the staff which may include dispensing opticians along with the clerical staff
  • Training and supervising the junior staff
  • Managing all the retail aspects of contact lenses, spectacles and other vision products
  • Organizing, administering and developing the optometric practice
  • Managing or owning an optometric practice

Salaries and job outlook

In 2024, the median annual wage for optometrists in the US was $134,830, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This figure represents the midpoint, with half of optometrists earning more and half earning less. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also projects that the employment of optometrists will grow by 9% between 2023 and 2033, which is faster than the average for all occupations. 

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