Optometrist

What does an optometrist do?

• Test vision and measure the need for glasses or contact lenses.
• Examine the eyes with specialist equipment to check for disease.
• Detect conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease.
• Prescribe and fit glasses and contact lenses.
• Manage some eye conditions and prescribe eye medicines where the rules allow.
• Refer patients to eye doctors or general doctors when they find signs of serious disease.
• Advise patients on eye health, screen use, lighting and eye safety.

Where do they work?

Most optometrists work in community practices, from independent shops to large retail chains, often in town centres or shopping areas. Others work in hospital eye departments alongside ophthalmologists, in specialist contact lens or low-vision clinics, universities, research or industry. Some visit people at home who cannot travel. Hours are usually regular but can include evenings, Saturdays and public holidays in retail settings. The work is indoors, detailed and involves seeing many patients a day.

What skills do you need?

• Knowledge of eye anatomy, optics and eye disease
• Using specialist diagnostic equipment
• Precision and attention to detail
• Clear explanations for patients of all ages
• Clinical decision-making
• Patience with children and older patients
• Customer service
• Business awareness in retail settings

Official skills profile (ESCO)

Essential skills listed for this occupation in ESCO, the European Commission's multilingual classification of skills and occupations.

• advise on healthcare users' informed consent
• perform vision rehabilitation
• apply context specific clinical competences
• educate on the prevention of illness
• record healthcare users' progress related to treatment
• interact with healthcare users
• comply with legislation related to health care
• comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice
• inform policy makers on health-related challenges
• develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship
• perform comprehensive eye examinations
• work in a multicultural environment in health care

Essential knowledge: preventive medicine · eye protection regulations · quality standards of ophthalmic equipment · optical glass characteristics · refraction of the eye · optical instruments

How do you become an optometrist?

You need an optometry degree approved by your national regulator or professional body. In the UK, you complete a three- or four-year degree and a period of supervised practice. In Australia, India and many Asian countries, optometry degrees usually take four to five years. In the United States and Canada, you complete university study, usually a bachelor's degree, then a four-year Doctor of Optometry programme and national exams. In some European countries, the profession is organised differently, with training through vocational colleges or combined with dispensing glasses. After qualifying, you register or get a licence before you can practise.

1. Optometry degree. In the UK, Australia, New Zealand, India and many other countries, you study optometry as a degree after secondary school. It typically lasts three to five years and covers optics, eye anatomy, eye disease and clinical practice, with supervised patient work. Some programmes include the supervised practice you need to register.
2. Doctor of Optometry. In the United States and Canada, optometry is a four-year professional doctorate taken after university study, usually a bachelor's degree in a science subject. Admission often requires an entrance test. Graduates then pass national board exams and get a state or provincial licence. Some other countries, such as Nigeria, award a Doctor of Optometry as a first degree.
3. From dispensing optician. Dispensing opticians, who fit and supply glasses from a prescription, can sometimes progress to optometry through further study. In some European countries, optometry training builds on vocational optician training. Check which qualifications your national regulator accepts before you choose a course.

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Do you need a licence to work as an optometrist?

Optometry is a regulated profession in most countries, although the rules vary more than for many health careers. Usually you must register with a national or state regulator after an approved degree and supervised practice or exams. The scope of practice differs a lot: in some countries optometrists can prescribe medicines and manage eye diseases, while in others they mainly test sight and fit glasses. In a few countries optometry is not recognised as a separate profession. Check the local rules before you choose a programme.

How much does an optometrist earn?

Pay in the United States

• $136,570Median annual wage, May 2025
• $74,870–$202,180Range from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%
• 42.8KPeople employed in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 29-1041, May 2025. National estimates across all industries; excludes the self-employed.

Earnings of Professionals around the world

Most countries do not publish pay for single job titles. The International Labour Organization collects median monthly earnings for broad occupation groups instead. This career belongs to ISCO-08 major group 2, "Professionals". The table covers the whole group, which includes optometrist and many other occupations.

Source: ILOSTAT, median monthly earnings of employees, latest year available. PPP$ adjusts for price differences between countries so figures can be compared. "vs all employees" compares the group's median with the median for all occupations in the same country.

Career progression

1. Trainee or newly qualified optometrist
2. Optometrist
3. Senior or specialist optometrist
4. Practice manager, partner or hospital specialist
5. Practice owner, clinical director or professor

Job outlook

Demand for eye care is growing as populations age and more people develop conditions such as diabetes, glaucoma and short-sightedness, which is becoming more common among children in many countries. Many health systems are moving eye care from hospitals into the community, giving optometrists wider clinical roles. Online sales of glasses and contact lenses and automated sight tests may put pressure on some retail work, so specialist clinical skills are likely to become more valuable.

Questions about becoming an optometrist

What is the difference between an optometrist, an optician and an ophthalmologist?

An optometrist examines eyes, tests vision, prescribes glasses and contact lenses and detects eye disease. A dispensing optician fits and supplies glasses and lenses from a prescription. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specialises in eye disease and eye surgery. In the UK, optometrists are often informally called opticians, which can cause confusion.

How long does it take to become an optometrist?

In the UK it usually takes around four years, including a degree and supervised practice. In Australia, India and many other countries, optometry degrees typically last four to five years. In the United States and Canada, you usually complete a bachelor's degree and then a four-year Doctor of Optometry, so around eight years in total.

Can optometrists prescribe medicines?

In some countries, yes. Optometrists in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK can prescribe certain eye medicines, sometimes after extra training or as part of their degree. In other countries, their role is limited to testing sight, fitting lenses and referring patients with eye disease. The rules change over time, so check the regulator in your country.

Is optometry a good career?

It can be. Optometry offers regular hours, direct patient contact and a clear clinical role, and demand for eye care is growing. However, much of the work is in busy retail settings with sales targets, and your scope of practice depends heavily on the country. Consider whether you enjoy careful, repeated testing as well as clinical problem solving.

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Sources

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — SOC 29-1041, national estimates, May 2025
2. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — ISCO-08 major groups, latest year per country
3. European Commission — ESCO occupation profile — ESCO code 2267.1

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). How to become an optometrist: degrees, skills and salary. https://coursetojob.com/careers/optometrist/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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