Description
Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and help prevent disorders and diseases of the eye. May also provide vision services for treatment including glasses and contacts.
Interests
- Investigative
- Social
- Realistic
Work Values
- Achievement
- Independence
- Recognition
Work Styles
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Analytical Thinking
- Self-Control
Tasks
- Perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.
- Diagnose or treat injuries, disorders, or diseases of the eye and eye structures including the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva, or eyelids.
- Provide or direct the provision of postoperative care.
- Develop or implement plans and procedures for ophthalmologic services.
- Prescribe or administer topical or systemic medications to treat ophthalmic conditions and to manage pain.
Work Activities
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Documenting/Recording Information
Detailed Work Activities
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Technology Skills
- Medical software
- Spreadsheet software
- Electronic mail software
- Word processing software
- Analytical or scientific software
Abilities
- Inductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Active Learning
- Complex Problem Solving
Knowledge
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
- Administration and Management
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Certified Professional in Healthcare QualityCertifying Organization
National Association for Healthcare Quality
Type
Core
Certificate name
Certified Ophthalmic ExecutiveCertifying Organization
American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Cardiac CT Certificate of Advanced ProficiencyCertifying Organization
American College of Radiology
Type
Specialty
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $136,907 |
| Median (50%) | $235,382 |
| High (90%) | $304,387 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $175,982 |
| Mid Level | $257,298 |
| Senior Level | $257,231 |
| Expert Level | N/A |
Employability
There are currently 12,400 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 12,900 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 5%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 5%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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