Eye Doctor Salary or Optometrist salary is placed at an average of $113,010 per year, while the national range is between $52,270 and $132,580 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Other statistical data collected from Payscale places the Eye Doctor Salary or Optometrist salary at $97,667 – $111,001. With most mid-career Eye Doctor or Optometrist earning $102,362.
The major factors that affect income like place, employer, skills, reputation and work hours also affect the eye doctor or optometrist. Though there are other benefits attached to their pay, such as overtime, hazard, insurance and other benefits.
The eye is a delicate organ and it is also connected to many nerves, the brain and other sensitive tissues. Old age also causes the weakness in the muscles of the eye and other reasons that make people use the service of an eye doctor or optometrist
Who is an Eye Doctor Optometrist?
Eye Doctor or Optometrist check patients’ eyes, test their sight, give advice on visual problems and prescribe and fit spectacles or contact lenses when needed.
As an optometrist you have the choice to work in any of these three places, though not limited to the places mentioned below.
- Eye Doctor or Optometrist are commonly found in Research centers, teaching hospitals and universities. They undertake research to find better way of curing and preventing eye diseases and challenges.
- They can work in private practice, it is easier to own a private practice as a Eye Doctor or Optometrist.
- And you can find them in hospitals, clinics and health centers, where they work with other professionals in the medical field to give healthcare services.
The Eye Doctor or Optometrist working in private offices and practice earn more than their contemporaries government or school setting. Another are often overlooked is the vision therapy or sports vision, where the earning are more due to fewer professionals.
Other area of specialization include pediatric optometrist.
Schools and Training
You need to start with a 4 years bachelor’s degree. To qualify as an eye doctor or optometrist you must fulfill all the requirement to earn accredited doctoral degrees and meet license requirements. Optometrists typically complete a 4-year Doctor of Optometry degree program from an accredited optometry school.
Postgraduate clinical residency programs are available for optometrists who wish to specialize in a particular area of optometry. Specializations include areas such as pediatrics, geriatric, family practice, vision therapy, ocular surgery and low-vision rehabilitation.
Eye Doctor Salary or Optometrist Salary
The eye doctor salary or optometrist salary is between $52,270 and $132,580 per year, however it may be more if it is in private practice or private office.
The earnings are dependent on the offer given my the employer, skills and training.
Eye Doctor Salary or Optometrist Job Descriptions
The eye doctor performs the following duty:
- Perform vision tests and analyze results
- Diagnose sight problems, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, and eye diseases, such as glaucoma
- Prescribe eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other visual aids, and if state law permits, medications
- Perform minor surgical procedures to correct or treat visual or eye health issues
- Provide treatments such as vision therapy or low-vision rehabilitation
- Provide pre- and postoperative care to patients undergoing eye surgery—for example, examining a patient’s eyes the day after surgery
- Evaluate patients for the presence of other diseases and conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension, and refer patients to other healthcare providers as needed
- Promote eye and general health by counseling patients
The Eye Doctor Salary or Optometrist salary is a motivating factor to become a professional in this field aside from giving hope to those in need of care.