 By Debbie A, McKnight

 Doctors of Optometry (OD) provide most of the primary vision care that people need.  They o examine, o diagnose, o treat and manage eye diseases o and disorders.

 Optometrists may administer drugs for diagnostic purposes, and in many states, prescribe drugs to treat eye diseases.  Traditionally, o they prescribe eyeglasses, o contact lenses, o vision therapy o and low vision aids.  They may also use special tests and tools to identify and evaluate vision defects that are symptomatic of other diseases.

 Optometrists may specialize in working with o children, o the elderly, o or partially-sighted people who need special visual aids to improve their vision.

 They may concentrate on education and/or perform scientific research.  Other specialized practices include o contact lenses, o occupational vision (to protect and preserve worker’s vision o and minimize eye strain), o pediatrics, o sport vision, o and vision therapy.

Chapter 276  In addition to testing for visual acuity, measuring color vision, and caring for eyeglasses, ophthalmic care staff members may perform other skills such as instilling eye drops. o Eye drops are used to dilate the pupils or treat disease. o Care should be taken to avoid errors when instilling eye drops.

Chapter 277  Diagnoses and treats clients with amblyopia, strabismus, defects in eye movements, and binocular vision.

Chapter 278  The Job of Ophthalmic Medical Personnel (cont.) o Administer topical ophthalmic and oral medications. o Instruct the client in care and use of contact lenses. o Maintain and sterilize surgical instruments. o Assist with ophthalmic surgery. o Assist with fitting contact lenses. o Provide supervision and instruction to other ophthalmic medical personnel.

 The majority of optometrists are in private practice, usually in their own offices.  Since they are self-employed, they may set their own hours.  Many work in the evening and on Saturdays to accommodate their patients’ schedules.

 Opportunities for employment exist in o health maintenance organizations (HMOs), o multidisciplinary practices, hospitals, o commercial optical facilities, o and commission in the military

 Optometrists wishing to teach or do research may study for an additional master’s or PhD degree in various fields.  These include o visual science, o physiological optics, o neurophysiology, o public health, o health administration, o health information and communication, o or health education.

 Postgraduate clinical residency programs are available for those wishing to specialize in o a particular area of eye care such as family practice optometry, o pediatric optometry, o vision therapy, o contact lenses, o hospital-based optometry, o or ocular disease.

 Students must earn a Bachelor’s degree and complete a four-year accredited program at a college of optometry.  All applicants must take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) to be considered for  Attend a college of optometry 4 years

 To practice in Texas, optometrists must pass a state licensing exam.  Applicants for licensure must have a Doctor of Optometry degree (OD) from an optometric program accredited by the American Optometric Association Council on Optometric Education and must pass both a written National Board examination and a National, Regional, or State clinical examination.

 University of Houston Houston, TX D  University of Incarnate Word San Antonio, TX D

 Job Outlook Starting Salary $97,000 5 Years- $135, years-$183,000