Optometrist Research Paper

For years, people with blurry vision have had the opportunity to see clearly and optometrists have made this possible. Some people may take their vision for granted, but the world would not be what it is today if all the people that wear glasses or contact lenses, which is over half of the people in the United States, did not have the chance to see everything around them clearly. The Optometry profession is dedicated to the prevention of blindness and the enhancement of visual function. Optometrists have the satisfaction of helping their patients care for the most highly valued human sense - sight. Optometrists, also known as "Eye Doctors" or "O.D.'s" , examine eyes to diagnose vision problems and eye diseases. They determine a course of
treatment or refer patients to ophthalmologists and other specialists(Career: Optometrists 1). They have to be well-educated and friendly people because they have many job tasks that they must perform and they have to adjust their schedules to correspond with their patients needs. To become an Optometrists, a lot of education and training is needed.
To actually practice optometry, all states require that optometrists be licensed, which requires a Doctor of Optometry degree from an accredited optometry school and passing both a written and a clinical State board examination. The Doctor of Optometry degree requires a four-year program proceeded by at least 3 years of study before they even start. Most students hold a bachelor degree or higher. In order to be accepted to an optometrist college, it is required that courses in English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology have been passed. Applicants also must take the Optometry Admissions Test, most of which do so during their sophomore or junior year. In order to be a good optometrist, it helps to be a tactful communicator who is able to work with their hands. Along with the need of the ability to talk to patients, one should have good business sense if they are planning to run their own practice. A person looking at this career also should be able to reason logically, use arithmetic quickly and accurately, work agreeable with others, see details in pictures or charts, and base decisions on standards which can be measured or
checked. Most Optometrists are in practice by themselves, while others are in partnerships or group practice with other Optometrists. Some people working in this career hold two or more jobs. For example, an optometrist may have a private practice, but also work in another practice. According to the American Optometric Association, about two-thirds of practicing optometrists are in private practice, although there is a growing trend to join partnerships or group practices(Occupational Handbook 287). However, the estimated cost of equipment and furniture necessary for opening a private optometric practice starts around $49,600, which may prevent some people from immediately establishing their own business(MOIS 1). Those that do own their own practice, handle the business aspects of running an office, such as developing a patient base, hiring employees, keeping records, and ordering equipment and supplies. Optometrists in private practice usually work about 31 to 45 hours per week, working night and weekend hours to suit patient schedules, while those who are not self-employed usually work a normal 40-hour week. While the majority of optometrists work in general practice, some concentrate on special areas, such as specialty vision care. Others specialize in developing and implementing ways to protect worker' eyes from on-the-job train or injury. Optometrists may work with the elderly, children, or partially sighted persons who need specialized visual aids to improve their vision. Also, some specialize in contact lenses, sports vision, or vision therapy. A few teach optometry or perform research, while others choose a career in the military, public health, or other government service. Still others may practice at hospitals, clinics, teaching institutions, and community health centers Being a D.O. requires performing many different tasks within one career. They perform comprehensive examinations of both the internal and external structures of the eye. They examine eyes and related structures to determine visual performance and efficiency and to detect eye diseases and other abnormalities. Optometrists refer patients to other health care providers for further diagnosis and treatment for a variety of systemic and neurological conditions, such as visual pathology or a systemic disease, which are frequently diagnosed during the primary eye examination. Also, they diagnose the probable cause of defective vision along with testing eyes for proper depth and color perception. An optometrists day may include analyzing a patient's ability to focus and coordinate eye movements, measuring peripheral vision, testing for near- and farsightedness, prescribing and supplying eyeglasses, and fitting and adjusting contact lenses. If a patient's condition is less or more severe than the severity of the need of glasses, a D.O. may prescribe corrective procedures which do not require prescription drugs or surgery, such as the use of lenses, prisms, and exercises or other forms of vision therapy. Optometrists counsel their patients regarding surgical and non-surgical options that meet their visual needs related to their occupations, avocations, and lifestyle. The education and training that is required for this career can be long and expensive, but the end result more that outweighs the cost. Optometry is also rated as one of the top ten income-earning professions in the country . According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, optometrists had average annual earnings of $96,610 in 2003, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $24,820 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $123,770 a year(Career: Optometrists 2). Salaried optometrists tend to earn more initially than do optometrists who set up their own independent practice. In the long run, those in private practice usually earn more, however. The demand for vision care services continues to expand. Optometrists held about 32,000 jobs in 2002 and employment of optometrists is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2012 as a result of baby boomers aging. They will be more likely to visit optometrists because of the onset of vision problems in middle age. This is including vision problems that may arise due to the extensive use of computers. Employment in this career will also grow due to added recognition of the importance of vision care along with an increase in prepaid vision care plans. Also, the need to replace optometrists that leave the occupation will result in employment opportunities, but few people leave this career, transferring to another, with the exception of retirement. Anticipated productivity gains that will allow each optometrist to see more patients may decrease the growth of employment in this career, as well as new surgical procedures using lasers that are available can correct some vision problems, but they remain expensive. However, people that do take part in laser surgery still require preoperative and postoperative care by optometrists. Overall optometry has a good outlook, it will have many job openings in the next few years and an expectancy of many customers. The career pays pleasing wages and it leaves a person with different options in the career, such as owning their own practice or working in a partnership for other optometrists. The education and training is a lot to go through and it will take a while, but the end result of having an enjoyable career that pays well, including earnings and mentality, will be more than worth it. Overall, I believe being an optometrist will be a good career choice for me.