Pre-Optometry

 

Career and Major Information
Related Career Titles
Web Sites
Salary Information

 

The Associate of Science Degree in Pre-Optometry is intended to fulfill the freshman and sophomore level preadmission requirements for a program of optometry.  Many optometry students complete a Bachelor’s degree before applying to the program.  The curriculum in the WSCC catalog is not designed for transfer to any specific school.  Students will need to talk with a faculty advisor about a particular college or university’s course requirements and transfer.  The link for the Natural Science Division at Walters State is: http://www.ws.edu/science/default.asp

 

 

Career and Major Information: 

 

Optometrists, also known as doctors of optometry, or ODs, provide most primary vision care. They examine people’s eyes to diagnose vision problems and eye diseases, and they test patients’ visual acuity, depth and color perception, and ability to focus and coordinate the eyes. Optometrists prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses and provide vision therapy and low-vision rehabilitation. Optometrists analyze test results and develop a treatment plan. They administer drugs to patients to aid in the diagnosis of vision problems and prescribe drugs to treat some eye diseases. Optometrists often provide preoperative and postoperative care to cataract patients, as well as patients who have had laser vision correction or other eye surgery. They also diagnose conditions due to systemic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, referring patients to other health practitioners as needed (Occupational Outlook Handbook 2004-2005).

 

 

Related Career Titles: 

 

Chiropractors

Dentists

Physicians and Surgeons

Podiatrists

Veterinarians

 

Web Sites:

Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 510, Rockville, MD 20852. Internet: http://www.opted.org

Additional career information is available from:

American Optometric Association, Educational Services, 243 North Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141-7881. Internet: http://www.aoanet.org

Occupational Outlook Handbook 2004-2005: http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos073.htm#related

 

 

Salary Information:

Median annual earnings of salaried optometrists were $86,090 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $62,030 and $115,550. Median annual earnings of salaried optometrists in 2002 were $87,070 in offices of other health practitioners. Salaried optometrists tend to earn more initially than do optometrists who set up their own independent practice. In the long run, however, those in private practice usually earn more.

According to the American Optometric Association, median net annual income for all optometrists, including the self-employed, was $110,000 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $82,500 and $156,500 (OOH).

Salary figures quoted are based on national figures.  Local or regional salaries may be lower.

 

Citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Optometrists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos073.htm