Are you willing to make your career in optometry? If yes this article provides you with every career option in Optometry. The term “Optometry” is derived from the words “opis” meaning “view” & “metron” meaning “something that is used to measure”. Optometry is the healthcare profession of measuring vision, prescribes and fitting lenses to improve vision, and detecting & treat various eye diseases”. There is a range of career options available to qualified optometrists, including working in a hospital clinic, carrying out essential research, and more. Optometry is a satisfying career in medical courses in various ways. It is a challenging career that offers self-awareness, work flexibility, community respect, money-related achievement & unlimited opportunities. A career in Optometry offers a high salary, job stability, tremendous potential for development, and a decent work environment.
Optometry Courses & Duration
There are no. of universities in India offer diploma, certificate, bachelor, master & Ph.D. courses in Optometry.
Diploma Courses: It is two years duration course. You can pursue this course after completing your 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology & English.
Diploma Courses: It is two years duration course. You can pursue this course after completing your 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology & English.
Bachelor Degree Courses:
- Optometry (B.Opto)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc)
The duration of these courses is 4 years. The student has successfully completed H.S.C./10+2 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics & Pass in English.
Master Degree Courses:
- Master of Optometry (M.Opto)
- Master of Science (M.Sc)
- M.A/ M.Sc. (5-year Integrated) Courses
M.Opto & M.Sc are two years duration regular full-time course. For admission in these courses, students have to pass Bachelor degree in Optometry or equivalent course from any Indian University.
Top colleges in India that offers education in Optometry
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
- Bharati Vidyapeeth University
- All India Management Association
- Government Medical College and Hospital, Surat
- Government Medical College, Nagpur
- Punjab Medical College, Amritsar
- Medical College, Patiala
- Birla Institute of Tech. Science, Pilani
Career Options In Optometry
After studying Optometry, you can make your career as optometrists, ophthalmologists & Optician. There are various career options in optometry check below:
Optometrist is the independent primary health care provider who specializes in eye care and visual health. An Optometrist is medical professionals, but not physicians. They focus on regular vision care and prescribe eyeglasses and contacts. Optometrist examines the internal and external structure of the eyes.
An ophthalmologist is a physician (medical doctor) who specializes in the surgical and medical care of the eye & vision system. Ophthalmologists offer complete eye care services. These include: Vision services, Medical eye care, Surgical eye care, Diagnosis and treatment of eye, Plastic surgery.
Optician is also a very important part of the eye care team, but it is not an eye doctor. An optician uses a prescription that is written by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. Optician is a technician who is trained to design, verify fit eyeglass lenses and frames, contact lenses, and other devices to correct eyesight.
The career opportunities in all these fields are wide & huge in demand both in India and abroad.
Optometrists can work as post-secondary teachers, occupational/industrial safety programs, consultants in the eye care industry or do research in optometry colleges. Optometrists can also set up their own private clinics & work independently. They can also choose a career in sports vision, public health and government service or community health centers.
Ophthalmologist may choose to set himself up in private practice, as a solo practitioner or as part of a medical group. As an Ophthalmologist, you can work as a public health employee, professor in the medical universities, military doctor, & as an employee of a clinic, hospital & government agencies.
Top Job Profiles
Some most famous job profiles of Optometrists are given below.
- Customer Care Associate
- Private Practitioner
- Professor
- Trainee Optometrist
- Vision Consultant
- Optometry Researcher
Salary & Pay Scale
The initial monthly salary of an optometrist ranges between Rs.20, 000 to Rs.40, 000. Optometrist can earn Rs. 4 to 5 lacs per year as a fresher. An ophthalmologist makes different salaries depending upon their employment place, applicable skills and geographical area. In India, they can earn at least Rs. 9 to 10 lacs in a year. The median salary for an ophthalmologist in the US is $202,133 annually