A lot of people think that being able to enter the field of medicine is a dream come true. Judging from the consistent, massive inflow of students taking the Medicine program in recent years, this is entirely true. The medical field is broad, and there are a lot of specializations to choose from. Each specialization is a door to many opportunities, including optometry. Is this the first time you’ve heard of it? Here are the reasons why you should consider optometry as a potential career.
Optometry is a profession in the health care sector which involves the examination, diagnosis, and correction of visual abnormalities of the eyes. To start practicing in this field, like an optometrists in Pittsburgh, an individual must obtain a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or Doctor of Optometry, in addition to a pre-medical course which will take at least five years. Performing surgical treatments also requires a license.
Although it will take a while to be an optometrist, entering the field has many perks. For instance, the field is never short of patients due to the ever-present aging population in developed countries. Optometry can cater to the examination, surgery, and diagnosis of eye problems in the older population; this population makes up a significant number of patients. Eye defects are also prevalent in students and professionals who use computers, such as those in Information Technology and Accounting degrees and professions, among others. Developed countries with an increasingly aging population are expected to have a surge of demand for optometrists by as much as 25 percent in the next decade, according to the 2010 Occupational Handbook of the Labor Statistics Bureau.
Aside from medical checkups, prescription of corrective eyewear is also one of the primary responsibilities of optometrists which can develop into a great business opportunity. Individuals who require corrective eyewear need regular examinations to check on their grades for possible corrections if their eye conditions change. All occupations nowadays require workers to have good vision to perform their tasks well; this is the reason why there will always be a constant requirement for corrective eyewear.
Also, people who seek routine eye checkups are less likely to change doctors compared to other patients of other illnesses. Eye care is a continuous process that must be attended to by a medical professional who is knowledgeable about your past eye conditions and grade requirements.
Due to increased demand, optometrists are among the best paid in the medical industry. According to the American Optometric Association, an optometrist’s annual salary in the private sector averaged at $96,000 in 2008. On the other hand, a self-employed optometrist can make as much as $175,000 per year. They also render service for only 7 hours daily; thus this is advantageous in terms of preference for a good working environment.
Optometrists not only pave the way for the improvement of vision of their patients, but they are also able to do well for themselves in their careers.
