Career in Optometry is right for anyone who is willing to serve the people to restore good vision. Optometry is a profession for testing eyes having defects of vision in order to recommend corrective lenses. Optometrist is a person who is an expert in optometry.
The work profile of optometrist includes mainly recognition of signs and visual eye diseases, the understanding of the problems affecting the eye and patient referrals to appropriate specialists. Therefore, an optometrist diagnose treat and prevent eye related problems. Optometrist lenses manufactured according to the prescribed specifications and individual needs. Optometrist also hardens & polishes lenses with the help of high tech machines. The ophthalmologist is very necessary when patients’ need secondary and tertiary treatments. When the patient needs eye surgery or medications he can consult an optometrist to an ophthalmologist. Some countries like Australia and New Zealand, an optometrist can also makes surgeries, but not in India, an optometrist is not authorized to do so.
There has been an increase in the aged population in recent years. Diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration diseases have become common in the population. Optometrists can treat these diseases. Therefore, the requirement for trained optometrists increasingly absorbed. One must have completed 12th in science stream with at least 50% marks in Chemistry, Physics, Biology or Mathematics and English together to a degree in Clinical Optometry. Candidates applying for this course is first short listed and then asked for a written entrance examination and after that he is interview. The selection criteria for a diploma course in optometry are one should be pass in class X or XII type. Those who have completed his diploma course in optometry clinic are eligible for direct admission in the third year of a degree in optometry. Four year of Optometry Courses are offered at several schools across the country. A student who has applied for a diploma course of four years they needs to study theories including Physiology and Anatomy of the Eye, orthopedics, Optical Mechanics, ocular motility etc for the first three years. The last year of the degree is dedicated to practical training.
Optometrist can take jobs in hospitals and local clinics that will help to an ophthalmologist. One can practice in independent optical stores or one can set up an independent practice of their own. In the early stage of this race, any student who is employed as an optometrist will be in a good position when the career receives its proper foothold in India. The outlook of the profession is very dazzling
