What You'll Do

  • 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.
  • Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.
  • Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.
  • Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.
  • Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, and safety factors.
  • Consult with and refer patients to ophthalmologist or other health care practitioner if additional medical treatment is determined necessary.
  • Remove foreign bodies from the eye.
  • Provide patients undergoing eye surgeries, such as cataract and laser vision correction, with pre- and post-operative care.
  • Prescribe therapeutic procedures to correct or conserve vision.
  • Provide vision therapy and low-vision rehabilitation.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.12/5
Active Listening 4.12/5
Critical Thinking 4.12/5
Writing 4.0/5
Speaking 4.0/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.88/5
Science 3.75/5
Coordination 3.38/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.38/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.38/5
Monitoring 3.25/5
Persuasion 3.25/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Cautiousness, Integrity, Intellectual Curiosity

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Expression 4.12/5
Problem Sensitivity 4.12/5
Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Written Comprehension 4.0/5
Deductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Inductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Near Vision 4.0/5
Written Expression 3.88/5

Technologies & Tools

Accra Med Software Filopto AltaPoint Data Systems AltaPoint Vision Apple Safari 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 Intuit QuickBooks MAX Systems Max-Gold7 MediNotes Charting Plus Microsoft Access Microsoft Edge Microsoft Excel Microsoft SQL Server Microsoft Word Mozilla Firefox OfficeMate Software Solutions ExamWRITER

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 5.0/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.65/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 4.52/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.47/5)
  • Intellectual Curiosity (High importance: 4.39/5)

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How to Become One

This career requires extensive preparation, typically including a graduate degree (Master's or Doctoral) and several years of experience. Most professionals in this field have invested significant time in education and training.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Optometrist Optometry Doctor (OD) Therapeutic Optometrist