Optometry is universally regarded as a primary healthcare profession that involves the diagnosis, treatment and management of numerous ocular conditions and diseases ranging from minor to moderate in their severity. Optometrists are usually the first point of contact in case of any ocular problem or emergency.
Pursuing a bachelor’s course in optometry or B. Optom course can provide an in-depth understanding of the anatomical and physiological properties of human eyes along with their connections with the rest of the body parts. The course can also include a thorough coverage of physical optics and mechanics.
A course in optometry can pave the way for excellent career prospects in a number of clinical and non-clinical domains. Most optometry careers can allow candidates to maintain an excellent work-life balance in addition to contributing to the general welfare of the society and earning generous pay checks.
Read ahead to learn more about different well-paying positions accessible with a B. Optom degree.
5 Interesting career profiles available with an optometry course
As an optometry graduate, you can join the primary healthcare or dispensing industry in a wide variety of roles that include the following:
- Retail Optometrist: Retail optometrists work with retail spectacle and contact lens chains to conduct free check-ups for the customers of the retail stores. Retail optometrists are often given specific sales targets for spectacles and contact lenses that they need to complete to get their bonuses. The complexity of the check-ups is usually low and the optometrist are expected to refer more serious cases to advanced healthcare setups like eye hospitals.
- Clinical Optometrist: Clinical optometrists are hired by eye hospitals or private practices to take medical histories from existing and new patients, conduct thorough ocular examinations and make accurate diagnosis of the underlying conditions. Most clinical optometrists work with ophthalmologists and ophthalmic surgeons and deal with relatively more severe conditions than retail optometrists.
- Low Vision Expert: Clinical low vision experts specialise in low vision conditions and optical devices and help individuals with curable or incurable ocular conditions to improve their visual acuity or optimise their remaining vision. These optometrists work with patients to find the low vision devices that are ideal fit for their conditions.
- Contact Lens Consultant: Contact lens specialists are often optometrists who have been extensively trained in the techniques involved in the creation and fitting of customised contact lenses. Contact lens specialists can either be involved in lens dispensing in hospitals or retail stores or be involved in the innovation in new contact lens designs.
- Diagnostic Optometrist: Diagnostic optometrists are specialists in ocular diseases and conditions who are brought in to provide advice or differential diagnosis in novel or complex cases. The role almost exclusively belongs in speciality clinics or large eye hospitals. Diagnostic optometrists can also start their own practices or become consultants.
Apart from these positions, candidates can also explore other roles in NGOs and hospitals trusts that may require them to conduct ocular screenings in public camps.
Becoming an optometrist can allow students to become the focal points between healthcare and engineering and let their research radically improve the quality of lives of affected people. Opt for B. Optom course to start your career in the healthcare industry.
