What Do Optometrists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Optometrists 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. They also 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.

Other tasks include:

• Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.
• Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.
• Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.
• Remove foreign bodies from the eye.
• Prescribe therapeutic procedures to correct or conserve vision.
• Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, and safety factors.

We asked Optometrists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

---

81% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 86% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Optometrists 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. They prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.

A typical day for an Optometrist will also include:

• Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.
• Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, and safety factors.
• Prescribe therapeutic procedures to correct or conserve vision.
• Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.
• Provide patients undergoing eye surgeries, such as cataract and laser vision correction, with pre- and post-operative care.

We asked some Optometrists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	78% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	52% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	96% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	70% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	13% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	78% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Optometrists also remove foreign bodies from the eye. They may also consult with and refer patients to ophthalmologist or other health care practitioner if additional medical treatment is determined necessary.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Optometrists Provide vision therapy and low-vision rehabilitation. They might also Provide patients undergoing eye surgeries, such as cataract and laser vision correction, with pre- and post-operative care.

In addition, they Prescribe therapeutic procedures to correct or conserve vision.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.

To some Optometrists, it is also their responsibility to Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, and safety factors.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Optometrist, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/healthcare/optometrists.htm

http://www.aoa.org/

http://www.opted.org/

http://www.optometry.org/