Occupation

Optometrists

Human Advantage 77%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2.3 / 10

This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.

Diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Examine eyes and visual system, diagnose problems or impairments, prescribe corrective lenses, and provide treatment. May prescribe therapeutic drugs to treat specific eye conditions.

Also Known As: Optometrist, Optometry Doctor (OD), Therapeutic Optometrist

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Examine eyes, using observation, instruments, and pharmaceutical agents, to determine visual acuity and perception, focus, and coordination and to diagnose diseases and other abnormalities, such as glaucoma or color blindness.
  2. Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.
  3. Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.
  4. Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.
  5. Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, and safety factors.
  6. Remove foreign bodies from the eye.
  7. Provide patients undergoing eye surgeries, such as cataract and laser vision correction, with pre- and post-operative care.
  8. Consult with and refer patients to ophthalmologist or other health care practitioner if additional medical treatment is determined necessary.
  9. Prescribe therapeutic procedures to correct or conserve vision.
  10. Provide vision therapy and low-vision rehabilitation.

Education & Training

Job Zone 5 Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Doctoral Degree
95%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.
5%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Microsoft Word

Software (24)

  • Accra Med Software Filopto
  • AltaPoint Data Systems AltaPoint Vision
  • Babcock Winx Pro
  • Compulink Business Systems Eyecare Advantage
  • Digital Healthcare OptoMize
  • First Insight E-Z Frame
  • First Insight MaximEyes
  • HealthLine Systems Eyecom
  • Insight Software My Vision Express
  • MAX Systems Max-Gold7
  • MediNotes Charting Plus
  • OfficeMate Software Solutions ExamWRITER
  • OfficeMate Software Solutions OfficeMate
  • Operational Data Store ODS software
  • Prima Systems OPTIX
  • Scheduling software
  • Universal Software Solutions VersaVision
  • VisionScience Software Acuity Pro
  • Web browser software

Tools & Equipment (62)

  • 4-well lens holders
  • 8-well lens flippers
  • Adult fixation targets
  • Amsler grids
  • Autorefractors
  • Binocular indirect ophthalmoscopes
  • Biomicroscopes
  • Broken wheel visual acuity cards
  • Child fixation targets
  • Clear 20 diopter condensing lenses
  • Clear 78 diopter condensing lenses
  • Color vision testing devices
  • Combined cover paddle occluders
  • Contact lens loupes
  • Corneal pachymeters
  • Corneal topographers
  • Desktop computers
  • Fixation cards
  • Fundus cameras
  • Golf club spuds
  • Gonioscopy lenses
  • HRR Hardy-Rand-Rittler plates
  • Halberg clips
  • Half nylon gripping pliers
  • Horizontal prism bars
  • Hruby lenses
  • Ishihara plates
  • Keratometers
  • Lachrymal cannulae
  • Lachrymal dilators
  • Lea symbols near vision cards
  • Lens calipers
  • Lens clocks
  • Lensometers
  • Loose prisms
  • Mechanical stethoscopes
  • Multiple pin hole occluders
  • Multiple pinhole mask occluders
  • Non-contact handheld fundus lenses
  • Notebook computers
  • Ophthalmic transilluminators
  • Ophthalmoscopes
  • Optical screwdrivers
  • Pediatric near point cards
  • Personal computers
  • Phoroptors
  • Pupil diameter PD rules
  • Randot stereo tests
  • Retinal cameras
  • Retinoscopes
  • Retinoscopy racks
  • Scleral depressors
  • Single Lea symbol books
  • Skiascopic lens rack
  • Snellen eye charts
  • Snipe nose pliers
  • Sphygmomanometers
  • Tonometers
  • Trial lens sets
  • Wide jaw angling pliers
  • Worth 4-dot tests
  • Yellow condensing lenses

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Physical Health Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 2
Zone 5
Optometrists You are here

Resume Builder

Select key tasks to generate action-oriented resume bullets for Optometrists positions.

Related Occupations

Show all 20 related occupations

Real Talk

Hear from real Optometristss about their work: