Optometrist
What the work is
Performs eye examinations and vision tests to determine the presence of visual, ocular and other abnormalities, ocular diseases and systemic diseases with ocular manifestations, and prescribes lenses, other optical aids, therapy and medication to correct and manage vision problems and eye diseases.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Performs eye examinations and vision tests to assess visual acuity, detect abnormalities and diagnose refractive errors
- Evaluates and manages ocular diseases and conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration
- Prescribes and fits contact lenses and other optical aids to improve vision
- Provides education to patients on eye health and proper eye care
- Collaborates with other health care professionals to manage systemic diseases with ocular manifestations
- Administers and prescribes therapeutic treatments and medications to treat eye diseases, superficial injuries and conditions
- Performs minor surgical procedures such as removing foreign bodies from the eye
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in an optometry practice in a suburban shopping centre. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A child puts on their first glasses and says the trees have leaves
- A routine test picks up something early and a patient gets the right care in time
- An older client reads the paper again, and tells you it is the first time in years
Hard days
- A day booked so tightly that every test feels rushed
- A patient who wants the same glasses as last time, regardless of what you find
- Having to tell someone that the news about their eyes is not what they hoped
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 263331, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.