How to become An Optometrist

When life gives us a lemon, we make lemonade. And when our vision gets blurry due to diseases or disorders of the visual system, we visit an Optometrist. Thanks to these ocular magicians who provide us with all kinds of spectacular visual aids, we get to open two gifts - our eyes - regularly and see better.

• Ophthalmic Optician

What do Optometrists do?

An Optometrist would typically need to:

• Detect, analyse, treat and prevent vision defects or eye diseases in individuals of all ages
• Sit with patients to obtain detailed case histories; perform vision tests to detect defects and signs of injury, disease, or abnormality
• Diagnose sight problems such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, and eye diseases, such as glaucoma, myopia, astigmatism, and cataracts
• Evaluate patients for the presence of diseases such as diabetes or hypertension; refer patients to other specialists if necessary
• Manage patients with low-risk eye conditions; prescribe eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other visual aids; prescribe medication if the local law permits
• Perform minor surgical procedures to correct or treat visual or eye health issues; provide pre-and post-operative care to patients undergoing eye surgery
• Educate patients on proper contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, and safety factors; provide vision therapy, eye-strengthening exercises, or low-vision rehabilitation
• Promote eye and general health of patients; discuss health issues with them and offer guidance and support on quitting smoking or losing weight to reduce vision problems
• Advise the government or local healthcare groups on the development of eye care services
• Recruit, train and manage staff, including other optometrists, dispensing opticians, and optical assistants
• Maintain and update medical records of all patients; maintain an inventory of supplies; administer, organise, and develop the practice if they own it

Optometrists experience a unique blend of healthcare and retail industry work environment. The private office, used for consultation and treatment, has a medical atmosphere. In contrast, the adjoining retail space where eyeglasses and vision aids are sold has a commercial feel.

They work in community practices, retail shops and private consulting rooms. They may also work in consulting rooms or cubicles in hospital trust buildings. Optometrists may opt to work at different locations throughout the week, work in one location, or even do domiciliary work at clients homes or in care homes.

Optometrists usually work alone while carrying out eye examinations but collaborate with a larger team of eye specialists to ensure their clients get the best healthcare. They use specialised equipment to examine and evaluate patients and work under medical grade lighting and in the dark. Travel might be necessary for training purposes or to attend conferences.

Optometrists work full time for around 40 hours a week. They benefit from retail industry standards and typically avoid long days or unsocial shift times. However, weekend and evening work is standard in community practice to accommodate patients’ needs.

Optometrists may work as postsecondary teachers or conduct research in optometry colleges; they may work as consultants in eye care facilities or be self-employed through franchises, partnerships, or solo practice. Most opportunities allow for part-time or flexible working.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Optometrists can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Optometrists are generally employed by:

• Community Practices
• Private Practices
• Hospitals
• Regional or National Chains
• Academic Facilities
• Charities & NGOs
• Spectacle Lens, Contact Lens, and Ophthalmic Manufacturers
• Retail Stores
• The Armed Forces
• Governmental Organisations
• Care Homes & Daycare Centres
• Public Health Bodies

Healthcare associations such as The World Council of Optometry (WCO) provide unparalleled networking and educational opportunities. They offer all the certification courses members will need throughout their professional careers.

Affiliated Optometrists may attend conventions, seminars, and dinners frequented by peers, mentors, and other industry leaders. The events help them learn about the newest breakthroughs and latest developments in the field, including plum jobs.

• Focusing on details can cause eye strain
• Sitting in awkward poses and leaning forward to examine patients may cause back strain

Be aware that wherever pre-registration is mandatory, work-based assessments will help you build on the knowledge gained at university and practice it in real life. Check out university noticeboards, the websites of major companies, advertisements in industry-specific magazines, and local optometry practices for training placements.

Volunteer with eye charities and local practices to gain valuable work experience. Reading as much as possible about optometry and interviewing experienced Optometrists will also allow you to explore the field and your professional interest in it.

The optimal way to becoming a qualified Optometrist will vary depending on your location. Prospective candidates should complete a bachelor’s degree focused on premedical or biological sciences. English and math are also requisites.

You must then take the online optometry admission test (OAT) to prove your knowledge in science, reading comprehension, physics, and quantitative research.

You are now qualified to apply for the four-year Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) program. It combines classroom learning in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, optics, and visual science with supervised experience in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the optical system.

In other locations, aspiring Optometrists must earn an accredited honours degree in optometry. The course may last three to four years. You may also opt for an integrated four-year Master of Optometry. Requirements include a high school diploma with excellent grades in at least two science subjects.

Most Optometrists need a licence to practice. Requirements include an accredited O.D. degree and passing an exam by the national regulatory body. Some locations may conduct an additional clinical exam or an exam on laws relating to optometry.

Elsewhere, candidates must register with their local regulator to work as an Optometrist. Requirements include achieving a specific grade in an accredited optometry course, completing a year of paid pre-registration training under a registered Optometrist, and passing the work-based and final assessments of the regulatory body.

Pre-registration requires completing an approved course with remarkable grades and obtaining a valid Certificate of Clinical Competency. The four-year Master of Optometry program incorporates the pre-registration period. Successful candidates are fully qualified and can register as Optometrists with their local regulator.

Performance, experience, and acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Optometrists. The field is quite flexible and allows Optometrists to combine multiple roles while navigating diverse sectors and practices simultaneously.

There are also opportunities to be promoted within a corporate clinical and management structure, transition into private or independent practice, go into practice management, and even buy into an existing practice.

If you choose to work in a government hospital, you can work your way up from a Basic to a Specialist, to a Principal, and finally to a consultant Optometrist.

You may also consider acquiring further qualifications to become an independent prescribing Optometrist. Higher studies and comprehensive training may qualify you for a research or lecturing role. In addition, you may be responsible for educating and supervising pre-registration ophthalmic nurses and students.

Candidates with significant work experience and training placements have the best job prospects.

To continue practising optometry, you must take continuing education classes and renew your license periodically. Check with your local regulatory body for exact requirements.

Attending lectures and workshops, presenting papers at conferences, supervising, teaching, & assessing, developing business skills, and obtaining postgraduate qualifications all form part of the requirements necessary for renewal.

Some universities offer professional certificates and diplomas in glaucoma, low vision, contact lens practice, medical retina, paediatric eye care, enhancing your knowledge and skills in the field.

Further studies at an accredited institution, a clinical placement and a final exam by the regulatory body will qualify an incumbent with significant experience as an independent prescribing Optometrist.

Distinguish between Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Opticians

While all three professionals focus on visual and optical issues, they vary on levels of training. Ophthalmologists are physicians who perform eye surgery and treat eye diseases in addition to performing eye exams and prescribing eyeglasses and contact lenses. While Optometrists are not medical doctors, they are healthcare professionals that provide primary vision care. Their duties focus on sight testing, correction, diagnosis, treatment, prescribing medication, and management of vision changes. Opticians are technicians that design, verify, and fit eyeglasses. These professionals are not permitted to diagnose or treat eye issues. They typically fill prescriptions written by ophthalmologists and optometrists. Specialisms You may choose to provide specialised care by working in a group practice with other optometrists or physicians; you will focus on treating low vision or infants and children. Companies that offer laser refractive surgery may also hire Optometrists for pre-operative consultations and post-surgical follow-ups.

The number of people over the age of 65 will double by 2050, increasing the incidence of ocular conditions and a subsequent rise in demand for Optometrists.

If you wish to pursue a career focused on patient treatment but cannot fulfil all the requirements essential for a purely medical profession, perhaps Optometry may be a wise choice. Once qualified, you will experience a varied and insightful career in diagnosing, treating and preventing ocular conditions.

Optometry is the same as other healthcare careers, such as medicine or dentistry, in that your knowledge can make a real difference in people’s lives every day. - Dr Susan Blakeney