Optometrist Career Profile | Career Advice and Help Australia CareerNav

Optometrist

Last modified: November 07, 2011, 01:25 PM

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This is an ideal career for logical and analytical thinkers. Optometrists mostly provide vision care. They examine people’s eyes in order to diagnose vision problems and eye diseases, and to test patients’ visual acuity, depth and colour perception, and ability to focus and coordinate the eyes. You prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses, and provide vision therapy and low-vision rehabilitation.

Leading Companies & Markets

OPSM have dominated the optical market for many years. They have over 300 retail outlets and stock the leading designer label eyewear brands. Paris Miki are a prominent retailer. Almost 40% of optometrists are in private practice, retailing eyewear as part of their regular operations.

Environment & Cultural of workplace

You usually work in your own offices in conditions that are clean, well lit and comfortable. You are likely to work full-time at least 40 hours a week patient time. You work at weekends and in the evenings to suit the needs of patients. Emergency calls, once uncommon, have increased with the passage of therapeutic-drug laws expanding optometrists’ ability to prescribe medications.

About the Author

Katie Chisnall

My name is Katie Chisnall and i have been working as an Optometrist for 4.5 years. I studied a 5 year Bachelor of Optometry at Melbourne University. I currently work for OPSM between 2 stores in the Inner suburbs of Melbourne.