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Date: 11/13/2025

Optometrists

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.

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  • Work Activities
  • Skills
  • WorkKeys®
  • Abilities
  • Knowledge
  • Career Video
  • Pay
  • Ohio Employment Trends
  • Typical Education
  • Personality
  • Tools
  • Technology
  • 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.
  • Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.
  • 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.
  • Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.
  • Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.
  • Prescribe therapeutic procedures to correct or conserve vision.
  • Provide vision therapy and low-vision rehabilitation.
  • Consult with and refer patients to ophthalmologist or other health care practitioner if additional medical treatment is determined necessary.
  • Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, and safety factors.
  • Remove foreign bodies from the eye.
  • Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.
  • Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.

Work Activities

Work Activities

  • 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.
  • Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.
  • 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.
  • Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.
  • Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.
  • Prescribe therapeutic procedures to correct or conserve vision.
  • Provide vision therapy and low-vision rehabilitation.
  • Consult with and refer patients to ophthalmologist or other health care practitioner if additional medical treatment is determined necessary.
  • Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, and safety factors.
  • Remove foreign bodies from the eye.
  • Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.
  • Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.

Skills

  • Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.

  • Social Perceptiveness

    Understanding people's reactions.

  • Complex Problem Solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • Installation

    Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.

  • Operations Monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.

  • Science

    Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.

  • Learning Strategies

    Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.

  • Time Management

    Managing your time and the time of other people.

  • Reading Comprehension

    Reading work-related information.

  • Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • Mathematics

    Using math to solve problems.

  • Critical Thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • Coordination

    Changing what is done based on other people's actions.

  • Technology Design

    Making equipment and technology useful for customers.

  • Equipment Selection

    Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.

  • Operation and Control

    Using equipment or systems.

  • Equipment Maintenance

    Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.

  • Troubleshooting

    Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.

  • Repairing

    Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.

  • Judgment and Decision Making

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.

  • Systems Analysis

    Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.

  • Systems Evaluation

    Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.

  • Active Listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • Active Learning

    Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.

  • Management of Personnel Resources

    Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.

  • Management of Material Resources

    Managing equipment and materials.

  • Management of Financial Resources

    Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.

  • Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.

  • Negotiation

    Bringing people together to solve differences.

  • Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • Service Orientation

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • Operations Analysis

    Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.

  • Programming

    Writing computer programs.

  • Quality Control Analysis

    Testing how well a product or service works.

WorkKeys®

Applied Math
5
Workplace Documents
5
Graphic Literacy
5

Abilities

  • Night Vision

    Seeing at night or under low light.

  • Mathematical Reasoning

    Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.

  • Number Facility

    Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.

  • Oral Expression

    Communicating by speaking.

  • Category Flexibility

    Grouping things in different ways.

  • Written Comprehension

    Reading and understanding what is written.

  • Information Ordering

    Ordering or arranging things.

  • Explosive Strength

    Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.

  • Near Vision

    Seeing details up close.

  • Auditory Attention

    Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.

  • Perceptual Speed

    Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • Finger Dexterity

    Putting together small parts with your fingers.

  • Selective Attention

    Paying attention to something without being distracted.

  • Fluency of Ideas

    Coming up with lots of ideas.

  • Problem Sensitivity

    Noticing when problems happen.

  • Trunk Strength

    Using your lower back and stomach.

  • Static Strength

    Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.

  • Gross Body Equilibrium

    Keeping your balance or staying upright.

  • Dynamic Flexibility

    Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.

  • Manual Dexterity

    Holding or moving items with your hands.

  • Wrist-Finger Speed

    Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.

  • Depth Perception

    Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.

  • Speed of Limb Movement

    Quickly moving your arms and legs.

  • Gross Body Coordination

    Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.

  • Dynamic Strength

    Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.

  • Far Vision

    Seeing details that are far away.

  • Rate Control

    Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.

  • Multilimb Coordination

    Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • Speech Clarity

    Speaking clearly.

  • Originality

    Creating new and original ideas.

  • Hearing Sensitivity

    Telling the difference between sounds.

  • Speed of Closure

    Quickly knowing what you are looking at.

  • Inductive Reasoning

    Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.

  • Extent Flexibility

    Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.

  • Control Precision

    Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

  • Response Orientation

    Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.

  • Visual Color Discrimination

    Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.

  • Stamina

    Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.

  • Peripheral Vision

    Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.

  • Glare Sensitivity

    Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.

  • Visualization

    Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

  • Spatial Orientation

    Knowing where things are around you.

  • Speech Recognition

    Recognizing spoken words.

  • Memorization

    Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.

  • Written Expression

    Communicating by writing.

  • Oral Comprehension

    Listening and understanding what people say.

  • Deductive Reasoning

    Using rules to solve problems.

  • Time Sharing

    Doing two or more things at the same time.

  • Arm-Hand Steadiness

    Keeping your arm or hand steady.

  • Reaction Time

    Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.

  • Flexibility of Closure

    Seeing hidden patterns.

  • Sound Localization

    Noticing the direction that a sound came from.

Knowledge

  • Transportation

    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

  • Geography

    Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.

  • Law and Government

    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

  • Computers and Electronics

    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • Fine Arts

    Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

  • Food Production

    Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

  • English Language

    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

  • Design

    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • Sociology and Anthropology

    Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.

  • Administration and Management

    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

  • Mechanical

    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • Mathematics

    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

  • History and Archeology

    Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.

  • Economics and Accounting

    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

  • Production and Processing

    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

  • Biology

    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

  • Engineering and Technology

    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

  • Communications and Media

    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

  • Personnel and Human Resources

    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

  • Building and Construction

    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

  • Philosophy and Theology

    Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.

  • Chemistry

    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

  • Administrative

    Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

  • Sales and Marketing

    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

  • Foreign Language

    Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

  • Medicine and Dentistry

    Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

  • Public Safety and Security

    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

  • Psychology

    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

  • Physics

    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.

  • Education and Training

    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • Telecommunications

    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

  • Therapy and Counseling

    Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

  • Customer and Personal Service

    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Career Video

Additional videos and more information available on CareerOneStop

Pay

  • Typical Salary
  • $172,420
    $130,000
    $53,900
    Ohio
    US
    $203,210
    $134,830
    $70,060
  • Typical Hourly Wage
  • $83
    $63
    $26
    Ohio
    US
    $98
    $65
    $34

Ohio Employment Trends

  • Currently Employed 2,160
  • Yearly Projected Openings 70

Typical Education

Personality

Investigative: People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Concern for Others
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Cooperation

Tools

  • Binocular vision test sets
  • Blood pressure cuff kits
  • Color perception testing lanterns
  • Corneal topographers
  • Depth perception apparatus
  • Desktop computers
  • Eye charts or vision cards
  • Eye occluders
  • Fundus cameras
  • Keratometers
  • Lens measuring equipment
  • Loupes
  • Medical acoustic stethoscopes
  • Notebook computers
  • Ophthalmic eye test lenses
  • Ophthalmic instrument table accessories
  • Ophthalmic irrigation or aspiration supplies
  • Ophthalmic lachrymal probes
  • Ophthalmic lens holder
  • Ophthalmic lensometers
  • Ophthalmic prisms
  • Ophthalmic retinoscope accessories
  • Ophthalmic retinoscopes
  • Ophthalmic slit lamps
  • Ophthalmic surgical knives or blades
  • Ophthalmic tonometers
  • Ophthalmic transilluminators
  • Ophthalmoscopes or otoscopes or scope sets
  • Opticians tools
  • Personal computers
  • Phoropter units
  • Photo attachments for microscopes
  • Scleral shells
  • Thickness measuring devices

Technology

  • Accounting software
  • Calendar and scheduling software
  • Data base user interface and query software
  • Internet browser software
  • Medical software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Word processing software
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