Eye Care Careers

The eye care professional career line is divided into three distinct specialties of optometry, ophthalmology and optics. This gives rise to what are now the career titles of these professionals: optometrist, ophthalmologist and optician. These three eye care professionals perform very distinct services and functions.

An optometrist is primarily concerned with routine vision primary care. This includes examination for eye disorders or diseases, and prescription of eyewear and medication. The ophthalmologist is a trained medical doctor specializing in eye health. This type of eye care professional has a wider variety of treatment options that include surgical and non surgical methods. The optician complements the other two by fitting eye glasses and contact lenses as well as executing prescriptions handed out by the other two professionals.

These professionals each undergo different levels of education. The ophthalmologist has the lengthiest process of the three. He or she has to go through four years of college, then four years of medical school and three to eight years of residency. The optometrist has to go through four years of college and a further four years in an optometrist school. The optician has the least educational burden as this medical professional receives most of the required training on the job. The general requirement is a high school diploma with a college diploma being an extra advantage.

Getting an eye care professional degree requires different levels of study for ophthalmologists and optometrists. Some of the courses that are studied for an ophthalmology degree are as follows: During their first four years of premed, they must study physics, biology, mathematics, English, inorganic and organic chemistry. They also have to complete some humanity and social science units.

The next four years in medical school involve working in labs and classrooms studying biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, pharmacology, microbiology, psychology, pathology, and medical and legal ethics governing the medical profession. The next two years involve practical clinical learning through rotations in hospitals. Finally, after completing this, they take up residency in a teaching hospital to develop their skills. This is where they may specialize into ophthalmology.

An optometrist  receives a four year bachelor’s degree after which they take up another four years in an optometry school. Here they undertake units in pure and visual optics, human body in health and disease, ocular anatomy and physiology, physiology of vision and perception, and optometric mathematics. In addition to this, they also study clinical optometry and communication skills, visual and ocular assessment, assessment and management of binocular vision, and ophthalmic lenses and dispensing. On completing this four year doctorate, the doctor of optometry may then enter into residency or enrol in a post graduate program to specialise in a particular area.

Many universities offer eye care professional degree programs. One of the well known medical schools is Stanford School of Medicine that offers a degree in ophthalmology. Schools offering degrees in optometry include Indiana University, Midwestern University, New England College of Optometry, Nova Southeastern University, the Ohio State University, Pacific University, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University, amongst many more.

The tuition for a course in ophthalmology at Stanford University is $3,500 and is only available to medical students. The medical course costs roughly $70,000 per year for four years. Optometrists may expect to pay between $11,000 and $20,000 per year to go through optometry school.

Once completed, the state requires certain licensure for these eye care professionals. Optometrists are licensed by the respective State Regulatory Board of Optometry in order to work in the United States. This is an additional credential to a doctorate in optometry. This involves undertaking a written and oral exam from the board once every three years. Other licenses may be required based on the speciality of the optometrist. Ophthalmologists receive medical licensing from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical education as well as the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Eye care professionals will continue to enjoy great job opportunities as the sector is projected to grow at par with other health care jobs. The average salary of a licensed optometrist is estimated to be at about $90,000 while that of an experienced ophthalmologist is about $256,320. Opticians received a much smaller salary, just over $40,000 a year.