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Optometrists mostly provide vision care. They examine people’s eyes to diagnose vision problems, eye diseases, 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.

Most optometrists are private practitioners and have patient consultations of up to 20 a day. With the support of administrative staff you also handle the business aspects of running an office, such as developing a patient base, hiring employees, keeping records, and ordering equipment and supplies.

You will generally work relatively long hours and the concentration can be intense. Some, however, work in a flexible part time capacity. The career future is bright as demand will always be driven by the ageing population. You work with interesting people in low stress environments and don’t take work home. The financial rewards are above average and you seldom get burnt out like many other medical related careers.

Some people consider Optometry to be a mid level medical career which does not provide sufficient financial return for the financial cost of the degree and the time spent in school. Other medical careers are more lucrative.

Optometrists generally have long careers, retiring late, and so there is less opportunity to buy a practice but you can start your own practice.

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