Optometry

Get Your Glasses On!

What IS an Optometrist?O An optometrist has an O.D.

(Oculus Doctor).O O.D.’s can:

O Examine/diagnose patients O Prescribe meds, eye

glasses or contacts, vision therapy

O perform certain eye surgeries (depending on state regulations)

How do you get there?O The requirements are similar to those for

medical school.O 3-4 years (usually) of undergraduate education

with a strong science backgroundO An undergraduate degree is required, so this really

depends on how long it takes to get your degree.O 4 years of graduate education at a school of

optometryO Pass board exams (administered by the National

Board of Examiners in Optometry)O Specialization! Further education in particular

areas (e.g. ocular pathology)

How do you get there? part 2

O There are 19 schools of Optometry (currently) in the U.S.

O Admission to these schools is competitive with about 1 out of 3 applicants being accepted.

O Applicants take the OAT (Optometry Admissions Test), a standardized test covering natural sciences, reading comprehension, physics, and qualitative reasoning.

Cost and SalaryO Optometry schools can cost $9,312 to

$22,470 for residents and up to $51,420 for non-residentsO Some schools have programs allowing

non-residents to pay the resident tuition.

O There are many loan options and grants to help students pay for their education.

O 2009 average net income for primary care optometrists was $130,856

The JobO Most optometrists work in private practices (and

therefore need to be business savvy).O Many patients come in to be fitted for

glasses/contacts, but other problems (think glaucoma and cataracts) are treated as well.

O Optometrists may also do research (some go on to get Ph.D.’s for this).

ProfessionalismO Candidates for optometry schools should

have volunteering and shadowing experience.O “The purpose in shadowing an optometrist

is to ensure that optometry is the profession for you.” – Berkeley School of Optometry

O Other extra-curricular activities are considered on applications.

O Optometry school students receive ethics education alongside their other classes.

ResourcesO Bureau of Labor Statistics:

O http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos073.htm O Association of Schools and Colleges of

Optometry:O http://

www.opted.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3347O Berkeley Optometry (be sure to check out the

“etiquette” section under admissions for great advice):O http://optometry.berkeley.edu/index.html

O USA News Best Careers of 2009:O http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/

2008/12/11/best-careers-2009-optometrist

Questions?O What do you think would be most

interesting about this type of work?O What would be the most difficult part

of this job for you? Why?O How would you go about preparing

yourself for this profession?O What’s your favorite part of the eye?