The Profession of Optometry

• Why Choose Optometry?
• Optometry Fact Sheet
• What is a Doctor of Optometry?
• Optometric Education
• Optometric Professional Outlook
• Additional Information

Why Choose Optometry?

Quality of life, professional status, self-employment opportunities, and good monetary compensation were just a few of the reasons Kiplinger’s named the profession of optometry as “One of the Top 7 Great Careers for 2007.” Additionally, the Job Rated Almanac (6th Edition) ranked the optometric profession in the upper twelfth percentile of top-rated jobs. And, there’s even more good news for the profession of optometry!

Optometry is posed in a very favorable economic position due to the U.S.’s aging population, projected overall population growth in the U.S., optometry’s increased participation in vision care plans, favorable changes in Medicare laws and the emergence of new state and federal legislation in support of optometric care. These numerous factors have contributed to an increased demand for optometric services. Additionally, the profession of optometry is currently faring better than the economy as a whole.

Doctors of Optometry (O.D.’s or optometrists) are independent primary health care professionals and well-respected members of the health care community. Doctors of Optometry are highly educated eye care practitioners who are responsible for the visual and ocular health of their patients. As primary health care providers, optometrist frequently refer patients to health care specialists for systemic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, neurological defects and several types of autoimmune diseases that can manifest in the eye.

Optometrists also enjoy flexibility in practice modalities, excellent working conditions, direct patient care, expansion of optometric services, and good income potential. All of these factors contribute to making the profession of optometry an excellent career choice.

Optometry Fact Sheet:

• Optometry is the nation’s third largest independent healthcare profession.
• 70 percent of the eye care market in the U.S. is provided by Doctors of Optometry (ODs).
• Over 50 percent of Americans wear glasses or contact lenses.
• According to BizStats.com, optometric sole proprietorships are the second safest small business to start.
• 90 percent of U.S. citizens over the age of 45 require vision correction
• The “Baby Boomers” represent 26% of the U.S. population which will place an increase in optometric services on the profession.
• There is a high degree of professional satisfaction due to good working conditions, high-cure rates, limited emergency calls, income potential and flexibility in practice modes.

What is a Doctor of Optometry?

A Doctor of Optometry is an “independent primary health care provider” who:

• Diagnoses and manages medical ocular disease under the provisions of their state license
• Prescribes therapeutic medications
• Examines, diagnoses and treats visual conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia
• Prescribes glasses & contact lenses
• Fits medical devices (i.e. contact lenses, ocular prostheses)
• Diagnoses and treats binocular visual disorders
• Diagnoses and manages lazy eyes and eye turns
• Manages low vision patients and conducts low vision rehabilitation
• Performs vision therapy

Doctors of Optometry practice in many types of different settings:

• Private practice
• Group practices / partnerships
• Hospital based practices such as the Veteran’s Administration or Indian Health Service
• University / Academic setting
• Research
• Administration
• Military
• Public Health
• Consultants for ophthalmic and pharmaceutical industry, environmental and workplace lighting, practice management and education

Optometric Education

• Optometrists must complete three or four years of undergraduate education (90 minimal semester hours) and four years at a U.S.-accredited college or school of optometry.
• Preparatory undergraduate courses for the profession of optometry include organic and inorganic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, advanced mathematics, biology, anatomy and microbiology. (Each professional optometry program has a recommended and/or required prerequisite curriculum.)
• The required entrance examination for all 17 U.S. optometry schools is the Optometric Admission Test (OAT), usually taken during the junior year of undergraduate studies.
• Graduate Doctors of Optometry (O.D.) have the option to further their education with optometric residency programs and/or advanced degrees (M.S. or Ph.D.).

Optometric Professional Outlook

Income & Economic Potential:

• The profession of optometry is faring better than the American economy as a whole.
• There will be an increased demand for optometric services due to age-related eye care needs (glaucoma, diabetes, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), etc.).

Demand for more optometrists:

• Nearly 1⁄4 of the practicing ODs are reaching retirement age.
• By 2010 the projected number of ODs retiring annually will be 800.
• Last year only 1,220 ODs graduated from the 17 U.S. schools of optometry.
• There are over 30,000 practicing ODs in the U.S., and only 2,690 ODs serving Texas’ 23+ million residents.
• In the state of Texas alone, 109 counties are without an optometrist.
• 23 of the 43 Texas border counties do not have an optometrist.
  

Additional Information:

Click here for additional information on the University of the Incarnate Word.

 

Sources:

Kiplinger.com (April 6, 2007) “7 Great Careers for 2007”

Job Rated Almanac (6th Edition,2002), by Les Krantz

BizStats.com (2002), “The Savest & Riskiest Small Businesses”

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

American Optometric Association

Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry

U.S. Census Bureau (2000)

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Bureau of Health Professions

TX Department of State Health Services 2006, Supply Trends 1980-2004

American Optometric Association Feasibility Study by Dr. Bob Pieper

U.S. National Report on the Population & Environmental Stats

The American Optometric Association Economic Survey, 2005