A Career in Optometry

Hunter Kikut

Mr. Alburger

English III Honors

22 February 2018
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Hunter Kikut

Mr. Alburger

English III Honors

22 February 2018

A Career in Optometry

Pause a moment and imagine waking up each and every day to the discomfort of poor

vision, which makes everything seem like a blob in some out of this world galaxy. Also, imagine

struggling in the classroom or workplace because objects that other individuals examine with

ease remain very difficult to even spot. All of these problems happen on a persistent basis for

millions of individuals around the globe, and when these problems do arise, they receive the full

force of an optometrist. Optometrists help resolve and fix countless problems dealing with vision

and other diseases/problems that originate in the eyeball. Optometrists hold high importance

today and without them life would lie difficult for the majority of people in our world with poor

vision and society would not possess the fast hectic pace it has today. The career of optometry

has high importance due to its progression throughout history, and the task performed (through

years of schooling) help millions restore and save not only their vision, but also their life as well.

Optometry today may acquire opinion as one of the finest and most important jobs one

can possess, but sadly this thought took decades to become popular. Optometry early on took an

abundance of opposition from every angle, and therefore the career took a long time to gain the

respect and popularity that it possesses today. This lack of respect appeared obvious as

optometrists two generations ago normally had little self-confidence about the fact that they

choose optometry as their career (Bennett). One main reason accounts to the limits placed on the
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career. One limit included not allowing optometrists to use diagnostic drugs to examine or treat

diseases found within the eyeball (Bennett). Also, members of the American Optometric

Association (AOA) stated that anything having to do with optometry should remain separate

from the area of medicine completely (Bennett). To top it all off, the education that optometrists

received materialized as not “sufficient” enough for real world application and as a result “it took

until 1971 for Rhode Island to become the first state to grant the legal right for optometrists to

use diagnostic drugs” (Bennett). The skeptics had a point though, as the early optometrists spent

almost all of their time in the classroom learning information straight out of the book with little

or no clinical experience (Celia). The students would then graduate from the university, receive

their degrees, and then not know how to safely apply the knowledge they learned in the

classroom on real patients (Celia). This factual information further pushed the idea across that

optometrists should not acquire drug privileges and receive respect if the “professionals” of the

field did not possess adequate knowledge to carry out their job..

The biggest change from the past to the present regarding optometry remains the image

placed upon the career. Many individuals described optometry early on as horrendous, but today

the image appears much improved, with optometry ranked by ​US News and World Report ​as one

of the best options for people seeking a career (Bennett). Also, educational regulations receive

greater enforcement today to ensure that optometrists come out of school fully prepared for the

job, as opposed to earlier. Some major changes include extending optometric education to four

years, awarding a Doctorate of Optometry degree, and requiring about two or three years of

liberal arts education before a student can enroll to become an optometrist (Bennett). The clinical

predicament also received addressment as “on average, today’s optometric student spends an
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equal amount of time in clinic and classroom” (Celia). This new schedules ensures that the

mistakes of students not knowing how to apply clinical information moves on. Optometry used

to receive little respect and considered the “low life” by many, but due to recent changes it has

made a complete turn around.

Optometrists must receive extensive schooling before they can enter the workforce. To

become an optometrist, a person must receive a four year bachelor degree, four year Doctor of

Optometry degree, and then finally a state board certificate (Institute). Competition for entry

into optometry school requires lots of fight and determination, as in 2007 only seventeen schools

of optometry existed in the United States (Institute). This fact may suggest negativity and scare

individuals off due to not believing they will get into one of these schools, but in actuality this

low amount of schools offers great upside. The low amount of schools ensures that the career

does not become too saturated. If the field became too saturated, the salaries provided would

drop substantially and the career would lose the high status it has today (Iannucci). Overall, it

remains crucial that individuals maintain high standards throughout high school and college to

give themselves a good shot at getting into one of these schools. It may seem challenging, but

with the right mindset, anything remains achievable.

Along with the changing history of optometrists comes extreme changes with education

as well. The information required and studied by optometrists has developed from “middle

school like material” to taught in prestigious universities all over the country, and even

worldwide (Institute). Today, optometrists spend about 50% of the time in a clinic and 50% of

the time in a classroom learning information and listening to lectures (Celia). This shared time

slot became popular only recently as the first optometrists spent almost all of their time in the
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classroom, while receiving very little time to practice what they learned in a clinic (Bennett).

This led to many inexperienced optometrists and complications (Bennett). Some examples of this

include optometrists prescribing the wrong antibiotic to a patient or suggesting surgery when in

fact the problem may fix itself with just a little rest (Celia). Also, optometrists should expect to

spend more time on hands-on style learning instead of classroom theory (Celia). This supposably

helps the students further soak in the knowledge offered by the university and leave with no gaps

in the information presented.

After the student completes all of their required years of rigorous schooling and receives

their state board certificate, they have proved themselves ready to start their new life as an

optometrist. In the case with most jobs, difficulty may emerge when looking to find a job straight

out of school, but typically that does not exist for new optometrists and normally they can find a

job fairly soon (Institute). Arguably the best place to look for new optometric job openings

lingers at the optometric universities, as they will typically have a list of job openings in the area

(Institute). Also, the use of networking shows great positives for inexperienced optometrists

looking for a job immediately after graduation. Through networking, optometrists about to

graduate can let practice owners know that they feel interest in working as an optometrist

immediately after graduation, and as a result many practices will look to hire them ahead of

others due to their work mentality and determination (Institute). The career of optometry

sometimes has such a high demand (depending on location) that job openings for optometrists

may even appear in the local newspaper (though particularly for part-time positions at large retail

stores) (Institute). Once the optometrist has found a location where they plan to apply, the

interview presents the second part of the puzzle. In the interview, it benefits the optometrists to
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let his or her enthusiasm about optometry show and act as if they feel nothing but pure

excitement to begin working (Institute). This will let the possible future employer know that the

optometrist stands by his or her job choice and appears very motivated and determined to work

each and every day as an optometrist.

Once an optometrist obtains hiring and starts his or her new career, they can expect to

work a large amount of hours each week. Most optometrists work 40 hours a week, while those

who own their own practice can even expect to work more (Institute). Although an optometrist

can expect to work long hours, the time typically goes by fast, as optometrists will most likely

work in a location that upon inspection looks clean, well lit, and comfortable (Institute). Also,

optometrists sometimes may choose to work in more than two locations, (working in a private

practice and a clinic) while others prefer to just reside at one place. There remains many options

when determining what type of practice an optometrist may work at. The data shows that the

most common location where an optometrist may choose to work rests at general practices

(Institute). Here optometrists will see a wide range of people (from young to old) and perform

many different tasks such as performing a visual eye exam, fitting contacts or glasses, removing

foreign objects from the eye, and providing post-operative care for someone who has just had

refractive surgery (Institute). Another type of optometrist, a hospital optometrist, works in a

hospital and typically works in many different clinics at once, (while also doing multiple tasks at

once too) therefore making for a very stressful environment (Higgins). A pediatric optometrist

treats vision problems that present themselves in infants and children. This field has shown to

suggest extreme importance to the career of optometry as one in four children have trouble with

their vision (Elliot). The third (and upcoming) optometric type, a geriatric optometric, helps the
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elderly with vision problems they may experience as they age, while also checking for diseases

that may present themselves with the old age (Institute). Geriatric optometrists spend almost all

of their time in a nursing or retirement home and have special equipment to get around easier to

all of the older patients. Finally, there are specialists. These optometrists work specifically on

one visual condition and focus on cures and treatment, typically within a group setting (Institute).

The diseases specialists work on may not save thousands of people due to the conditions not

presenting themselves very often, but they still save lives and help those unlucky with these

circumstances.

Even though there exists many different types of optometrists throughout the field, they

all share one common goal, to make people's lives better. Typically, an optometrist will treat

vision problems in individuals of all ages, but further analysis shows so much more to the career

than that. One of the most common tasks that optometrists perform on a daily basis, caring for

postoperative cataract patient, normally does not get recognized by many despite its

commonality. Also, statistics show that by 2020 the number of people receiving cataract surgery

will double, and by 2030 it will triple (Fluder). Based off this information, it remains very likely

to see every optometrist trained today fully capable of providing service to a postoperative

patient who may come into the practice for a follow up appointment (Fluder). Also, optometrists

may diagnose and attempt to manage ocular diseases. All optometrists obtain legal access to test

for common diseases, but only specialists remain able to manage and provide preventative care

to those rare diseases that need more analysis and lab work (Institute). More commonly

associated with optometrists handles the prescription of contacts to patients with nearsightedness

or farsightedness. Contacts reveal a very large market, as in 2007 the total ophthalmic market
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totalled $25.6 billion, and out of that total $16.3 billion can attribute to optical sales (Celia). This

number (only rising each and every year) has led some optometrists to limit their practice to only

fitting and prescribing contact lenses (Institute). Optometry schools have noticed this rapid

change and as a result have added more classes and newer information involving contacts and

optical sales due to the growing demand in the market (Celia). This ensures the optometric

schools teach students relevant information for the changing society humans live in today.

Although an optometrists has many tasks that he or she must perform on a patient, the

career still demands many personal qualifications to maintain the high standards of the practice

and keep customers coming back. First off, a person must have great communication skills and

able to develop interpersonal relationships with everyone who comes to visit the practice

(Institute). They must treat every individual with respect (particularly the elderly) and always

remain patient, even if they have a discouraging experience with a patient. Also, great

observation skills are crucial. Optometrists look at many small dials and numbers throughout the

day and must not mix up information due to distraction while on the job (Institute). Another

great quality to possess, a problem solving mentality, will help substantially while working.

While on the job, optometrists will face many situations that need a solution to, and without

adequate thinking and problem solving abilities tasks for the job prove vigorous (Institute).

Patient reassurance, also,necessary, lets patients know that the decisions the optometrist makes

will benefit them (Fluder). Patients may seem hesitant and skeptical at times with all of the

information presented to them within a relatively short period of time, but the optometrist must

show clarity and explain how the treatments or procedures used will affect the individual
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positively (Fluder). With all of these steps done right, one can ensure success for many years

within their practice.

The career itself requires a lot of knowledge, and that reflects in the salaries that

optometrists receive. The average overall salary in 2017, $163, 761, showed a 4% increase from

2016 and a 13% increase from 2015 (Iannucci). With successful growth each and every year, the

career develops stronger and more self-sufficient. In breaking down the salary, one may notice

that there exists many factors that determine the salary an optometrist receives. One factor that

plays a huge role in determining an optometrist’s pay refers to their type of employment. The

difference between those self employed and employed favored those self employed by 35%, a

staggering amount (Iannucci). For that reason, many up and coming optometrists buy their own

private practice to expand on the financial opportunities (Massie). Experience also shows to

influence salary largely. Just like any career, those who have more than 30 years experience

make a greater amount than those who have just started out on the job. The average salary for

those who had 30+ years of experience fell at around $219, 935, a 23% increase from the pay

received by those who had 21-30 years of experience (Iannucci). One final factor that plays in to

the salary that an optometrist shall receive concerns the geographical location of the practice. In

2017, optometrists made an average of $180,476 in the south (the most out of everywhere in the

U.S), compared to just $139, 956 for optometrist working in the Mid-Atlantic states (Iannucci).

Second behind the south, the west, helped optometrists make an average of $168,768 (Iannucci).

For optometrists, the location of their practice should receive consideration if they want to

maximize their earnings.

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Out of all the factors that influence the salary of an optometrist, one in particular directly

influences their career the most, and that factor rests on employment choice. The decision to

open their own practice or work under the control of someone else, such as in a clinic, seems to

consistently remain one of the toughest decisions facing optometrists today. Optometrists

working as an employee have their hours and pay determined by their employer. Also,

employment through a company normally means working five or six days a week (May). On the

other hand, if an optometrist decides to open their own private practice, they make their schedule

and decide how often they want to come into the practice and serve patients (May). Also, in

regards to pay, owning a private practice seems much more beneficial. In 2017, the average

salary for those self-employed fell at $179,078, while those employed stood at a staggering

$132,353.The gap, even bigger in 2016, remained a 58% difference in salaries favoring the

practice owners (Iannucci). Many factors and sacrifices go into private practice ownership, but

once the practice secures establishment the benefits shall reveal themselves.

When opening a private practice, the optometrist should live in the the same city as their

practice (Massie). This ensures they remains close to their practice for time management reasons,

but it also helps them get involved in the community in which they live in. Once the optometrists

become involved in the community people will begin to notice them, and as a result the traffic

driven to their practice should boost (Massie). Also, if an optometrist plans on opening his or her

own practice they must decide whether or not they would like to purchase a smaller practice or a

larger one. Smaller practices normally come at a much lower price, but in turn take much more

fixing up and preparing to get ready to house and serve patients. In contrast, a larger practice

comes at a much higher price (some gross at over $1,000,000), but the benefits speak for
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themselves. (Massie) Typically, a larger practice comes set with all the necessary equipment for

the job, while typically also very modern (Massie). Also, a larger practice means the possibility

of holding more customers, and overtime this leads to increased sales and growth within the

company (Massie). Practice brokers also help when purchasing a practice, as they determine if

the practice the optometrist plans to purchase has a reasonable price. Practice brokers also make

sure the optometrist’s finances look in order, as banks will normally not give out big loans to

people who have a bad credit score or a large amount of debt (Massie). Finally, when purchasing

a private practice, the optometrists must protect their investment. That means if they buy a

private practice from an optometrist who changes their practice location, they must not take all of

their customers away from the new owner of the practice.To combat this issue, the seasoned

optometrist must explains to his or her patients that the new optometrist taking their place

presents excellent customer service and will show the same amount of care as he or she did

(Massie). Buying a private practice should definitely receive consideration and thought from all

optometrists, regardless of what others may tell them.

After a long career of optometry, one must begin to plan for retirement. It may seem like

a daunting task, but with the right mindset and plan retiring as an optometrist resembles a

painless process. By the time an optometrists becomes ready to retire, they most likely will have

their own private practice, and therefore will need to sell the practice to a buyer if they plan on

retiring (Beiting). To attract potential buyers, the optometrist should keep up with the practice

over time and make small investments into it each year, so that the attractiveness of the practice

remains as high as when it obtained ownership many years ago. If the seller does not put any

effort into the practice throughout the years and then all of a sudden spends lots of money on it
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before a selling date, potential buyers may feel suspicious about the wellbeing of the building

(Beiting). If in fact the practice does not sell within the first few months while on the market they

should not give up and remain patient, as it may take a year or two to find a serious buyer. This

data shows why importance becomes stressed on putting the practice up for sale at least one year

before an optometrist plans on retiring (Beiting). Also, optometrists planning on retiring should

ease themselves into the phase of not working. Some optometrists (workaholics) feel they do not

know what to do with themselves and all of their free time once retirement sets in, and this

sometimes leads to negative actions and thinking (Beiting). An optometrist should take half of

their schedule off during the months leading up to their planned retirement to prepare them for

life outside of the career in which they have learned to love.

Optometrists provide millions across the globe with a chance to improve their lives, and

see better than they ever thought they could. Optometrists can help patients identify and fix

problems associated with the eye, thus allowing for vision to come back restored to a sufficient

level. Optometry, at first considered a career no one wanted to have, now receives recognition as

one of the best jobs to possess in the United States. Through hard work and persistence,

becoming an optometrist remains very possible for every individual who strives to make a

difference in the lives of others, while also providing opportunity for a stable life for themselves

and their family.

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Works Cited

Beiting, Jan. "Practice Transitions Series, Part IV: Growth Mode; Mid-Career Optometrists

Identify Different Paths to Success, but Continued Growth Is the Key to Staying

Competitive and Motivated." ​Review of Optometry​, no. 10, 2006, p. 27. EBSCO​host,​

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Bennett, Irving. "A Witness to History: See More Than 70 Years of Challenge and Change

through the Eyes of an Optometrist Who Lived through Many Seismic Events in the

Profession's Evolution." ​Review of Optometry​, no. 7, 2016, p. 22. EBSCO​host,​

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Celia, Frank. "Education and Contact Lenses: Are New Optometric Grads Prepared? (Cover

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Elliott, Kathleen Foster. "Working with the Kids Is Alright: A Day in the Life of a Pediatric

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Fluder, Barbara J. "Caring for Postoperative Cataract Patients: Knowing What to Expect Is Key

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Higgins, Holly. "'Hospital through and Through': Holly Higgins on a Career Path That Has Led

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Iannucci, Michael. "2017 Income Survey: A MIXED BAG: Optometry Made some Major

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May, Parker. “PRIDE Paper Interview.” Email interview. 12 Feb. 2017.