About This Career

Diagnoses and performs surgery to treat and help prevent disorders and diseases of the eye. May also provide vision services for treatment including glasses and contacts.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Performs comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.
• Provides or directs the provision of postoperative care.
• Diagnoses or treats injuries, disorders, or diseases of the eye and eye structures including the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva, or eyelids.
• Develops or implements plans and procedures for ophthalmologic services.
• Prescribes or administers topical or systemic medications to treat ophthalmic conditions and to manage pain.
• Develops treatment plans based on patients' histories and goals, the nature and severity of disorders, and treatment risks and benefits.
• Performs ophthalmic surgeries such as cataract, glaucoma, refractive, corneal, vitro-retinal, eye muscle, or oculoplastic surgeries.
• Educates patients about maintenance and promotion of healthy vision.
• Documents or evaluates patients' medical histories.
• Performs, orders, or interprets the results of diagnostic or clinical tests.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
• Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Regular working hours and limited travel