Occupation Profile

Optometrists

(SOC Code : 29-1041)

in California

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.

Employers are usually looking for candidates with a First professional degree .

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Occupational Wages

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Area	Year	Period	Hourly Mean	Hourly by Percentile
				25th	Median	75th
California	2012	1st Qtr	$49.20	$36.06	$44.19	$58.41

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Occupational Projections of Employment (also called "Outlook" or "Demand")

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Area	Estimated Year-Projected Year	Employment		Employment Change		Annual Avg Openings
		Estimated	Projected	Number	Percent
California	2010 - 2020	4,100	4,800	700	17.1	220

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Job Openings from JobCentral National Labor Exchange

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Enter a Zip Code Find a Zip code in California

Within miles of Zip Code.

Possible Licenses Required and Issuing Authority

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License Title

License Authority

Optometry License

Department of Consumer Affairs
Board of Optometry
www.optometry.ca.gov

About Licenses

Industries Employing This Occupation (click on Industry Title to View Employers List)

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Industry Title

Number of Employers in State of California

Percent of Total
Employment for Occupation in State of California

Offices of Other Health Practitioners

38,883

43.1%

Offices of Physicians

62,928

13.1%

General Medical and Surgical Hospitals

1,393

6.5%

Colleges and Universities

1,979

3.2%

Outpatient Care Centers

6,487

2.5%

About Staffing Patterns

Training Programs (click on title for more information)

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Program Title

Optometry (OD)

About Training & Apprenticeships

About This Occupation (from O*NET - The Occupation Information Network)

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Top Tasks (Specific duties and responsibilities of this job.)

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.

Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses and other vision aids.

Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.

Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements and safety factors.

Remove foreign bodies from the eye.

Consult with and refer patients to ophthalmologist or other health care practitioner if additional medical treatment is determined necessary.

Provide patients undergoing eye surgeries, such as cataract and laser vision correction, with pre- and post-operative care.

Prescribe therapeutic procedures to correct or conserve vision.

Provide vision therapy and low vision rehabilitation.

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Top Skills used in this Job

Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others` actions.

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.

Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others` reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

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Top Abilities (Attributes of the person that influence performance in this job.)

Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

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Top Work Values (Aspects of this job that create satisfaction.)

Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions.

Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious.

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Top Interests (The types of activities someone in this job would like.)

Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

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