Optometrists
On the Job
Optometrists diagnose and treat problems with the human eye and visual system. They prescribe corrective lenses, like contact lenses or glasses. They may prescribe drugs to treat specific eye conditions.
Physical Demands
This career requires good eyesight.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Fit eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other vision aids.
- Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.
- Treat acute illnesses, infections, or injuries.
- Treat chronic diseases or disorders.
- Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
- Monitor patients following surgeries or other treatments.
- Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
- Prescribe assistive medical devices or related treatments.
- Prescribe medications.
Typical Working Conditions
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions.
- Dealing with external customers.
- Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- Exposure to disease or infections.
- Meeting strict deadlines.
- High levels of competition.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.