Career options for Optometry Students: Job, Salary, Courses and Colleges

Optometry meaning

Optometry is a scientific discipline, where the optometrist examines, diagnosis and treats the visual system. Optometry has good job opportunities, rewarding salary and excellent career prospects. After diagnosing diseases, disorders and injuries, the optometrist prescribed eye lenses or contact lens. Optometrists should not be confused with ophthalmologists as the later do eye surgery, treat eye diseases, and visual impairments.

How to become an optometrist after 12^th

Optometry courses are of four years. Educational requirements for a career in optometry in United States of America are to complete 4 years course-Doctor of Optometry. Before practicing, one has to obtain the license, certification and registration. One can enrolled in the course after completing postsecondary education with Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English and Math.

In India, the optometry course details are also of four years bachelor programme to become an optometrist. The first two years focused upon classroom and laboratory work; third year on didactic lectures and practical training whereas the fourth year on internship. After then, one awarded the optom

etrist degree. But for getting optometrist degree, the criteria are varied from country to country.

Licenses and Registrations

Licenses, certifications and registrations are required before practicing optometry. For that, one has to successfully complete B,Sc./M.Sc./PhD/Doctor of optometry from a recognized schools or boards or colleges. However for licensing, one can obtain it after completing four years degree in optometry.

Course content

• Basic biochemistry & Nutrition
• Ocular physiology & Anatomy
• Physical & Geometric Optics
• Computer programming
• English
• Optometric and Visual Optics
• Optometric instruments
• Mathematics
• CEVS & Ocular Diseases
• Microbiology, Pathology & Pharmacology
• Medical Psychology
• Communications and Public relations
• Low vision aids & Geriatric optometry contact lens
• System diseases and Glaucoma
• Dispensing optometry and Occupational optometry
• Pediatric optometry, Binocular vision & Advances in Optometry Project
• Clinics and specialties
• Practice Management
• Law & Optometry Public Health
• Epidemiology & Biostatistics

Optometrist’s duties

The optometrist performs the following duties:

• Do vision tests
• Diagnosis farsightedness, nearsightedness, astigmatism, glaucoma, cataract and other eye diseases.
• Minor eye operation
• Prescribe eye lenses
• Examine health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension and refer to the expert
• Binocular vision tests

Optometrist qualities

Some of the important qualities to become an optometrist are:

• Good communication
• Decision making skill
• Interpersonal skill
• Conceptual clarity
• Analytical skill
• Administrative nuances
• Organization ability
• Ability to work under pressure
• Team spirit
• Excellent subject knowledge
• Hard work
• Good quality technical knowledge

Optometrist job opportunity

Optometrists have adequate job options and job opportunities. There are some of the fields where they can absorb with good remuneration.

• Teachers
• Researchers
• Starting own business
• Consultants
• Eye care hospital
• Eye care institutions
• Public health
• Corporate sector
• Educational Sector
• Scientific research

Optometrists job outlook

As per survey, it is find out that employment in optometry is growing fast. It is growing in comparison to other jobs in the market. Aging population, low vision, diabetes, hypertension is responsible to give momentum to the job market.

Career options

Optometrists have excellent career prospects and truly they are first line of defense against blindness. Because of increasing aging populations, large scale of muscular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, they are high in demand. In USA, it is among the top 10 income earning profession. It has great career prospects among the developing countries on account of rapid eye related problems. Some of the career options are given below:

• Good job opportunity in developed countries
• Play pivotal role with ophthalmologists
• Teaching
• Research
• Involvement in lens manufacturing
• Optical shop
• Optician
• Refractionist
• Eye hospitals and clinics
• After getting expertise, start its own business

Career scope

Optometrists are the heath care professional who helps to provide comprehensive eye and vision care. They are playing in the treatment and management of visual related problems. They assist the ophthalmologists and other eye care providers. More than 500 million people alone in India are having some form of eye problems. India needs about 120, 000 optometrists whereas currently the country is having near about 40, 000 optometrists.

Career opportunities

Optometrists are in great demand both in India and abroad. Though, they can work in different organizations such as eye hospital, occupational safety programme, manufacturing of ophthalmic products, government sector, community centre, etc. yet they can also set up their own establishment. They can also pursue higher education such as M.S., M.Phil., Ph.D for teaching in colleges or universities. The starting salary in India is ranged between 25, 000 to 50, 000. However, in USA, Australia, England, it is much more higher.

Career related to optometrists

• Chiropractors
• Dentists
• Dispensing optician
• Physicians and surgeons
• Podiatrists
• Veterinarians
• Ophthalmologists

Optometrist salary

Salary of the optometrists is rewarding and worthwhile as per the market level. In USA, the average salary is $103, 900. While some of the deserving candidates also earn up to $187, 200. In India, one may get initially from 25, 000 to 50, 000 per month. But, with experience and expertise, the salary may touch quite a new level.

Optometry colleges in India

The list of below given institutes, colleges, and universities offer four degree course, 2 or 3 years diploma courses. Some of the institutions also offer Post graduate and Ph.D in optometry.

1. All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi
2. Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi
3. SRM University, Chennai
4. GD Goenka University, Gurgaon, Haryana
5. SGT University, Gurgaon
6. Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Ambala
7. Integral University, Lucknow
8. Amity University, Gurgaon
9. NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkatta
10. PG College of Bio-medical Sciences and Hospital, Dehradun
11. Parul University, Vadodara
12. Centurion University of Technology and Management, Bhubneshwar
13. Institute of Management Study, Kolkatta
14. Avadh Institute of Medical Technologies and Hospital
15. Pailan College of Management and Technology, Kolkatta
16. Ashray Institute of Paramedical Sciences, New Delhi
17. IIM University, Raipur
18. Impact Paramedical and Health Institute, Delhi
19. DS Institute of Paramedical Science and Hospital, Ghaziabad
20. Imperial Institute of Management, Mumbai
21. OM Sai Paramedical Institute, Ambala
22. Vasan Institute of Ophthalmology and Research, Bengaluru
23. The Lotus College of Optometry, Mumbai
24. Sri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Bareilly
25. Kohinoor College of Paramedical Science, Mumbai
26. DS Institute of Paramedical Science and Hospital, Ghaziabad
27. Nims School of Paramedical Sciences and Technology, Jaipur
28. School of Allied Health Sciences, Sharda University, Noida
29. Manipal School of Alled Health Sciences, Manipal
30. Al Salama College of Optometry, Calicut
31. All India Institute of Optometrical Sciences, Kolkatta
32. Bausch & Lomb School of Optometry, Hyderabad
33. Bharathiar University, Coimbatore
34. Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Medical College, School of Optometry, Pune
35. Bharatimaya College of Optometry, Surat
36. Dr. Anand College of Optometry and Vision Science, Salem
37. Dr. DY Patil Institute of Optometry & Visual Sciences, University of Maharashtra
38. Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
39. Elite School of Optometry, Chennai
40. Faculties of Allied Health Sciences, Vinayaka Missions, University of Tamil Nadu
41. The Global Open University, Kohima
42. Himalayan University, Arunachal Pradesh
43. ITM Institute of Health Sciences, University of Mumbai, Mumbai
44. Jadhavpar University, Kolkatta
45. Jamia Hamdard, Delhi
46. Madurai Kamraj University, Tamil Nadu
47. Martin Luther King University, Shillong, Meghalaya
48. Nagar School of Optometry, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad
49. Netaji Subhash Institute of Optometry, Mumbai
50. Rabindra Bharti University, Kolkatta

Optometry Universities in Australia

1. Deakin University
2. Flinders University
3. Queensland University of Technology
4. University of Melbourne
5. University of New South Wales

Optometry Institutions in England

1. Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge
2. City, University of London
3. University of Aston, Birmingham
4. University of Bradford
5. University of Hertfordshire
6. University of Manchester
7. University of Plymouth
8. University of Portsmouth
9. Cardiff University
10. Glasgow Caledonian University
11. University of Ulster, Coleraine

United States of America’s optometry Institutions

1. University of Alabama, Birmingham
2. University of Alabama, Birmingham
3. Midwestern University, Arizona College of Optometry, Glendale
4. Southern California College of Optometry
5. University of California, Berkeley
6. Western University of Health Sciences
7. Nova Southeastern University
8. Illinois College of Optometry
9. Indiana University
10. Midwestern University
11. University of Pikeville
12. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
13. New England College of Optometry
14. Michigan College of Optometry
15. University of Missouri, St. Louis
16. State University of New York
17. The Ohio State University
18. Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry
19. Pacific University, Portland
20. Pennsylvania College of Optometry
21. Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
22. Southern College of Optometry
23. University of Houston
24. University of the Incarnate World