Why Choose Optometry?

  • Second best career choice in the ENTIRE PRIVATE SECTOR!
  • THIRD LARGEST independent healthcare profession
  • Mean income is $136,898 for optometrists in the USA (2004 poll)

Optometry is a GROWING profession!

  • Recent history--optometrists gained the rights to prescribe therapeutic pharmaceuticals:
    • Optometry is now the primary entry point in the health care delivery system.  Insurance payers want their members to see optometrists first!
    • Third party insurance plans trust us to be the gatekeepers--optometrists decide how eye care is accessed by patients because they can treat or triage ANY ocular problem
  • Specialization occurring within optometric education creating more market demand for optometric services
  • Optometrist continuing to provide 2/3’s+ of all eye care in the US
  • Will become even more recognized and respected as a major health care profession by all members of the medical community
  • U.S. ophthalmic market totaled $27.2 billion (2006 poll) which is up 6.5 percent over two years ago.  Private optometry accounts for the largest share of this market—approx 39.1 percent.
  • Wages for optometrists have increased about 58% since 1998 when they averaged 38.60/hour...AOA News Vol 45 No17 May 8, 2007

Optometry’s FUTURE is SECURE!

  • Aging population—Baby Boomers will need eye care
  • Rising third party payers want full service providers—optometrists
  • Pre and post-op care for Laser Vision Correction is done by optometrists—ophthalmology relies on us for this service
  • Occupational visual demands are greater than ever before
  • Optometry has the second highest small business success rate

Other Benefits of Optometry

  • Four Years of professional school for Doctor of Optometry—entry level and ready for licensure and practice
  • Increasing demand for co-management of patients with MD’s
  • Options of private practice, military, VA hospitals and HMO’s
  • Ever-expanding professional role with possibility for LASER treatments performed by optometrists

U.S. News and World Report Magazine Poll:
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/060105/5careers_excellent.htm

Kiplinger Magazine Poll:
http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/onthejob/archive/2007/job0402.html

The American Optometric Association defines a Doctor of Optometry as "the primary health care professionals for the eye." Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the vision system, the eye, and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye.

Optometrists perform examinations of both the internal and external structures of the eye, evaluating patients' vision, diagnose, and determine the appropriate treatment. Optometrists work with patients who have visual skill problems such as the inability to move, align, fixate and focus the eyes; with age related eye disorders, treat eye diseases, corneal abrasions, ulcers, infections with pharmaceutical treatment, as well as correct refractive errors due to simple near or farsightedness. Optometrists can be the first to detect problems such as brain tumors, or systemic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, prior to the patient having any physical symptoms of the disease. Many optometrists provide pre- and post-management care of patients in need of laser surgery.

Optometry is the nation's third largest independent health care profession. Nationally, optometrists provide 70% of the eye care and enjoy careers in general practice, or specialize in contact lenses, geriatrics, low vision, pediatrics, vision therapy, sports vision, or occupational vision. A 2003 AOA survey showed that 92% of optometrists are self-employed and primarily in solo or group practices where they can practice the full scope of optometry within their state.

Students interested in optometry are looking forward to a career of improving the quality of life for their patients by providing them with improved visual ability and overall health of the eye. They choose optometry because they can incorporate their love of the sciences and their passion for helping people in a health care profession that offers a lifestyle that allows them to be a successful professional and balance family life and other interests.

Interested in learning more about the profession of optometry? Please contact our Admissions Office -- we will be happy to answer your questions.