Optometrist

Other Titles

Doctor of Optometry; Eye Clinic Manager; Optometrist

Diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Examine eyes and visual system, diagnose problems or impairments, prescribe corrective lenses, and provide treatment. May prescribe therapeutic drugs to treat specific eye conditions. Optometrists examine the eye and the related human visual system, diagnosing and treating related diseases and disorders. They may treat these problems, prescribe appropriate medication or recommend suitable visual care equipment, such as contact lenses. In this role, they closely examine the eyes of the clients using a wide range of tools. They check to determine if the acuity, focus or other aspects of the visual system have any problems. A part of their job is to recommend medication to treat eye conditions. They may also prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses to treat visual impairments. If a patient needs additional treatment, they recommend him to an ophthalmologist.

Examine eyes, using observation, instruments, and pharmaceutical agents, to determine visual acuity and perception, focus, and coordination and to diagnose diseases and other abnormalities, such as glaucoma or color blindness.

Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.

Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.

Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.

Remove foreign bodies from the eye.

Prescribe therapeutic procedures to correct or conserve vision.

Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, and safety factors.

Consult with and refer patients to ophthalmologist or other health care practitioner if additional medical treatment is determined necessary.

Provide patients undergoing eye surgeries, such as cataract and laser vision correction, with pre- and post-operative care.

Provide vision therapy and low-vision rehabilitation.

Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Science→ Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Reading Comprehension→ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Writing→ Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Social Perceptiveness→ Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Active Learning→ Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Complex Problem Solving→ Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Judgment and Decision Making→ Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Service Orientation→ Actively looking for ways to help people.

Coordination→ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Persuasion→ Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Instructing→ Teaching others how to do something.

Mathematics→ Using mathematics to solve problems.

Systems Evaluation→ Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Time Management→ Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Documenting/Recording Information→ Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Assisting and Caring for Others→ Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public→ Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Analyzing Data or Information→ Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others→ Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships→ Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Processing Information→ Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards→ Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates→ Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings→ Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Performing Administrative Activities→ Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others→ Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others→ Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Interacting With Computers→ Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Training and Teaching Others→ Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Developing and Building Teams→ Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization→ Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources→ Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others→ Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Developing Objectives and Strategies→ Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Scheduling Work and Activities→ Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Staffing Organizational Units→ Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

Coaching and Developing Others→ Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Selling or Influencing Others→ Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Handling and Moving Objects→ Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Test patient vision.

Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.

Develop medical treatment plans.

Fit eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other vision aids.

Prescribe assistive medical devices or related treatments.

Prescribe medications.

Treat acute illnesses, infections, or injuries.

Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.

Prescribe treatments or therapies.

Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.

Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.

Monitor patients following surgeries or other treatments.

Treat chronic diseases or disorders.

Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Inductive Reasoning→ The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Flexibility of Closure→ The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Speech Clarity→ The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Written Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Category Flexibility→ The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Finger Dexterity→ The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Arm-Hand Steadiness→ The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Control Precision→ The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Perceptual Speed→ The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Selective Attention→ The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Far Vision→ The ability to see details at a distance.

Manual Dexterity→ The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Speed of Closure→ The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.

Visual Color Discrimination→ The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.

Fluency of Ideas→ The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Mathematical Reasoning→ The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Number Facility→ The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

Originality→ The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Visualization→ The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Medicine and Dentistry→ Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Customer and Personal Service→ Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Biology→ Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Psychology→ Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Language→ Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Mathematics→ Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Administration and Management→ Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Chemistry→ Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

Sales and Marketing→ Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Personnel and Human Resources→ Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Economics and Accounting→ Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

Clerical→ Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Physics→ Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.

Therapy and Counseling→ Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Accounting software -- e.g., Sage Books; Xero; Intuit QuickBooks

Calendar and scheduling software -- Scheduling software; Acuity Scheduling

Database user interface and query software -- e.g., Microsoft Access; Microsoft SQL Server

Medical software -- Medical office management software

Word processing software -- e.g., Corel Wordperfect; Microsoft Word; Google Docs

Binocular vision test sets or accessories→ Worth 4-dot tests

Blood pressure cuff kits→ Sphygmomanometers

Color perception testing lanterns→ Color vision testing devices

Combination refractor keratometers→ Autorefractors

Corneal topographers

Depth perception apparatus→ Randot stereo tests

Desktop computers

Eye charts or vision cards→ Amsler grids; Broken wheel visual acuity cards; Fixation cards; Lea symbols near vision cards; Pediatric near point cards; Pupil diameter PD rules; Single Lea symbol books

Eye occluders→ Combined cover paddle occluders; Multiple pin hole occluders; Multiple pinhole mask occluders

Fundus camera→ Retinal cameras

Lachrymal dilators or sets→ Lachrymal dilators

Lens measuring equipment→ Lens clocks

Loupes→ Contact lens loupes

Medical acoustic stethoscope or accessory→ Mechanical stethoscopes

Notebook computers

Ophthalmic eye test lenses or accessories→ Clear 20 diopter condensing lenses; Clear 78 diopter condensing lenses; Gonioscopy lenses; Gonioscopy lenses; Non-contact handheld fundus lenses; Trial lens sets; Yellow condensing lenses

Ophthalmic instrument tables or accessories→ Adult fixation targets; Child fixation targets

Ophthalmic irrigation or aspiration supplies or accessories→ Lachrymal cannulae

Ophthalmic lens holders→ 4-well lens holders; 8-well lens flippers; Halberg clips

Ophthalmic lensometers→ Lensometers

Ophthalmic medical instrument sets→ Scleral depressors

Ophthalmic prisms→ Horizontal prism bars; Loose prisms

Ophthalmic retinoscope accessories→ Retinoscopy racks; Skiascopic lens rack

Ophthalmic retinoscopes→ Retinoscopes

Ophthalmic slit lamps→ Biomicroscopes

Ophthalmic surgical knives or blades or scissors or accessories→ Golf club spuds

Ophthalmic tonometers or accessories→ Tonometers

Ophthalmic transilluminators

Ophthalmoscopes or otoscopes or scope sets→ Binocular indirect ophthalmoscopes; Ophthalmoscopes

Opticians tools or accessories→ Half nylon gripping pliers; Lens calipers; Optical screwdrivers; Snipe nose pliers; Wide jaw angling pliers

Personal computers

Phoropter units→ Phoroptors

Photo attachments for microscopes→ Fundus cameras

Thickness measuring devices→ Corneal pachymeters

Investigative→ Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Social→ Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Realistic→ Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.

Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Social Orientation→ Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Working Conditions→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Achievement→ Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Recognition→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.