Optometry Aurora Denial O.D., FAAO Associate Professor of Optometry Chair Admissions Committee

US News and World Report January 5, 2006 Excellent careers for 2006

Optometry was ranked as the second best profession -US News and World Report Optometrist. A one-on-one helping career that will serve the massive numbers of boomers. Careers in which you help people, one-on-one, are rewarding, and the work environment is usually pleasant.

Optometry is the nation’s third largest independent healthcare profession. With favorable working conditions, regular hours and a minimum of emergency calls, it offers many practice options and great freedom in choosing a location to live and practice. Optometrists provide the majority of primary vision care administered. Over half the population in the United States wear glasses or contact lenses. People who may not require corrective eyewear still need regular eye care to prevent, detect and manage eye disease. ASCO

Optometry “Doctors of optometry (ODs) are the primary health care professionals for the eye. Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye.” American Optometric Association (AOA), 2005.

Conditions typically cared for by Doctors of Optometry corneal abrasions, ulcers, or infections; glaucoma; and other eye diseases that require treatment with pharmaceutical agents, management and referral when necessary; visual skill problems such as the inability to move, align, fixate and focus the ocular mechanism in such tasks as reading, driving, computer use, and in tasks related to hobbies and employment; the inability to properly process and interpret information requiring perception, visualization, and retention, such as that needed for most learning tasks; poor vision-body coordination as one interacts with the environment as in sports, occupations, and other everyday activities requiring spatial judgments; and clarity problems such as simple near- or far-sightedness or complications due to the aging process, disease, accident or malfunction. ASCO

Doctors of Optometry also work to: diagnose, manage, and refer systemic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and others that are often first detected in the eye. provide pre- and post- surgical care of cataracts, refractive laser treatment, retinal problems, and other conditions that require pre- and post-surgical care. encourage preventative measures such as monitoring infants' and children’s visual development, evaluating job/school/hobby related tasks, and promoting nutrition and hygiene education. ASCO

Requirements For Application to Optometry School A properly completed application for admission, including a personal essay Official transcripts from all colleges attended Official Optometry Admission Test (OAT) scores Letters of recommendation Optometry experience/exposure Personal interview

Prerequisite Courses Listed below are the common prerequisite courses for most optometry schools: • General Biology w/labs • General Chemistry w/labs • Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry w/labs • General Physics w/labs • Microbiology w/lab • Calculus • Psychology • Statistics • English • Social Science • Other Humanities

Optometric Education Optometry programs include classroom and laboratory study of health and visual sciences, as well as clinical training in the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Courses in pharmacology, optics, vision science, biochemistry, and systemic disease are included. One-year postgraduate clinical residency programs are available for optometrists who wish to obtain advanced clinical competence. Specialty areas for residency programs include family practice optometry, pediatric optometry, geriatric optometry, vision therapy and rehabilitation, low-vision rehabilitation, cornea and contact lenses, refractive and ocular surgery, primary eye care optometry, and ocular disease.

Licensure OD degree Satisfactory completion of National Boards Individual state requirements

Modes of Practice Solo Private Practice Partnership or Group Practice Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) Retail/Optical Settings Optometric/Ophthalmologic Professional Settings Military/Public Health Interdisciplinary Care Academic/Research Corporate/Industrial Consultants

Earnings Median annual earnings of salaried optometrists were $88,410 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $63,840 and $118,320. Median annual earnings of salaried optometrists in May 2004 were $87,430 in offices of optometrists. Salaried optometrists tend to earn more initially than do optometrists who set up their own practices. In the long run, however, those in private practice usually earn more. According to the American Optometric Association, median net annual income for all optometrists, including the self-employed, was $114,000 in 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $84,000 and $166,000.

Personal Satisfaction Practicing Doctors of Optometry experience keen satisfaction in their profession. The fact that many optometrists choose to practice on a part-time basis well into their retirement speaks highly of the rewards of the profession. Adding to optometrists’ satisfaction is the fact that increases in their incomes have outpaced inflation for the past 10 years. As managed care plans have lowered reimbursement levels for all healthcare providers, optometrists have responded by expanding their services to include more eye-health-related procedures, which assists their patients and has enabled their practices to grow.

Projected Need Employment of optometrists is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through 2014, in response to the vision care needs of a growing and aging population. The demand for optometric services will increase because of growth in the oldest age group, with its increased likelihood of cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, and hypertension. Greater recognition of the importance of vision care, along with rising personal incomes and growth in employee vision care plans, also will spur job growth. In addition to growth, the need to replace optometrists who retire or leave the occupation for another reason will create employment opportunities. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Optometrists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos073.htm (visited May 17, 2006).