Healthcare practitioners
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.
Median pay
$136,570
Growth to 2035
+10%
faster than average
Openings a year
2,000
Time to qualify*
5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Optometrist
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Exposure to disease
Optometrist: 33% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
- Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.
- Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.
- Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.
- Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, and safety factors.
- Remove foreign bodies from the eye.
- Provide patients undergoing eye surgeries, such as cataract and laser vision correction, with pre- and post-operative care.
- Consult with and refer patients to ophthalmologist or other health care practitioner if additional medical treatment is determined necessary.
Also called: Optometrist · Optometry Doctor (OD) · Therapeutic Optometrist
Outlook and AI
Optometrists held 45,100 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 49,400 by 2035 (+10%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Optometrist vs. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
- Optometrist vs. Pediatric surgeon
- Optometrist vs. General internal medicine physician
- Optometrist vs. Dermatologist
- Optometrist vs. Physician (other specialties)
- Optometrist vs. Neurologist
- Optometrist vs. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric
- Optometrist vs. Chiropractor
- Optometrist vs. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons