What is required to become an optometrist?
Most students enter optometry school after completing a bachelor’s degree. To practice in the United States, students must graduate from a fouryear Doctor of Optometry (OD) program at a U.S. accredited optometry school such as Southern College of Optometry (SCO). The optometry curriculum emphasizes the biological, medical, visual and optical sciences, as well as the understanding of the health care delivery system.
To receive an optometric license to practice in a given state, graduates must also pass National Board Examinations that are administered during the last two years of optometry school. Some states require an additional board examination for licensure. Once licensed, optometrists must complete continuing education hours to maintain their licensure throughout their years of practice.
What does an optometrist do?
Optometrists provide eye and vision care by examining the internal and external structure of the eyes to assess function and health. Optometrists diagnose and/or treat vision conditions like near/farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia, which is the gradual, age-related loss of the eyes’ ability to focus actively on nearby objects. Optometrists also treat eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts and retinal disorders. Optometrists can also evaluate the eyes for signs of systemic diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
Optometrists can also provide services which seek to enhance the quality of their patients’ lives in the home, workplace and leisure activities. These services include:
• Specialty Contact Lenses
• Geriatrics / Low Vision Care
• Vision Therapy / Rehabilitation
• Sports Vision Enhancement
• Occupational Vision Assessments
In many cases, optometrists may also provide pre- and postoperative care to eye surgery patients.
A Doctor of Optometry is an independent primary health care provider who examines, diagnoses, treats and manages diseases and disorders of the eye, the visual system and associated structures. Optometrists are the major providers of eye care in America and the only providers thoroughly trained in all aspects of vision science and optics.
What is the potential income?
Optometrists practice in rural communities, suburban areas and large cities in a variety of settings. Within the private practice setting, optometrists may be practicing alone or in a group practice with other ODs and/or MDs. Where a practice is established and the mode of practice can both affect the potential income for optometry.
Data from the American Optometric Association’s 2022 Survey of Optometric Practice shows the average net incomes ranging from $168,193 for the primary practice of optometry to $204,773 for optometrists who own all or a portion of their practice. The graphic below from Review of Optometry’s 2022 Salary Survey illustrates the average income of full-time optometrists in each region of the United States.
How does SCO prepare students to practice full-scope optometry?
SCO has a long tradition of developing outstanding clinical Doctors of Optometry.
The college prepares its students with a talented, diverse and dedicated faculty; an integrated and challenging curriculum; and comprehensive clinical training. Students gain clinical experience by working
with dedicated practitioners who provide services to a diverse patient population, addressing issues related to general health, eye health and visual function.
The Eye Center, one of the largest state-of-the-art vision and eye care facilities of its kind in the United States, was specifically designed to meet patient care and the clinical education needs of our students.
Among other advanced features, The Eye Center boasts one of the most complete optometric technology centers in the nation.
Faculty clinicians serve not only as teachers but as role models and mentors, demonstrating to students how to effectively relate to and manage patients, and how to gain patient confidence and compliance with treatment plans. The SCO externship program, which occurs during a student’s fourth-year and runs over the course of eight months, gives students the opportunity to work directly with doctors in private practice and multi-disciplinary settings where additional patient care experiences and one-on-one “coaching” is possible.
SCO is a great choice for any student whose desire is to become an excellent, compassionate and successful Doctor of Optometry.
What are the prospects for finding a position following graduation?
At SCO, we offer a comprehensive placement service to our graduates. Career counseling begins in the first year and continues throughout the four-year program. It is intended to prepare students for a career in optometry, while complementing their interests and longterm goals for practice. Students may utilize the online placement service listing, and those who do typically receive four to six practice opportunities as a result. Although the primary source of listings for practice opportunities is our alumni, other sources for listings are welcome.
To further assist, the American Optometric Association maintains an additional practice opportunity network database that is available to all optometry graduates.
