Working as a clinical optometrist in eye hospitals

• In specialty eye clinic as a
  • Contact lens practitioner
  • Paediatric optometrist
  • Orthoptist
  • Low vision practitioner
• Setting up one’s own optical outlet and practice
• Serve as an Consultant Optometrist and dispensing adviser in corporate optical outlets
• Work with Multinational companies as a technical expert, professional services, etc.
• Academics
• Research work

Higher Education: On the successful completion of Bachelors in Optometry one can pursue higher education in the form of

• Masters in Optometry
• M.Phil
• PhD

Optometrists practice in many different kinds of situations and with different types of employers.

Private Practice: This is the best option for an Optometrist to be a full-fledged clinician who can deliver variety of optometric services like complete eye examinations, prescribing & providing spectacles, Contact lenses, Low vision aides (devices that helps to enhance the visual potential of people who has irreversible visual damage) etc. Moreover, he can work in association with variety of other health care practitioners (Ophthalmologists, Physicians, Neurologists, Rehabilitation specialists, Occupational therapists etc) to provide a comprehensive eye care service to the public.

Hospital Optometrists: Here, the roles can be multifold. In outpatient department, Optometrists play an important role by performing initial eye examination procedures. They can also head speciality areas like pediatric optometry services, Contact lens clinic, Low vision clinic, pre & post operative care for refractive and cataract surgery patients etc. Optometrists are also trained to handle different diagnostic instruments used in eye hospitals.

Corporate Optometrist: There are immense opportunities in corporate biggies of eye care industry like Essilor, Bausch + Lomb, Johnshon & Johnson vision care and other spectacle and contact lens manufacturers across the globe. They can also work as professional service managers and Clinical Optometrists in Optical Industry and companies run chain optical outlets. Optometrists with management skills can reach up to the highest positions in these companies.

Faculty Optometrist: Those who has passion in teaching has enormous opportunities ahead as more and more Optometry teaching institutions are coming up. The biggest advantage here is the professional can be involved in teaching as well as in clinical side.

Research Optometrist: Those who are interested to continue with academics and have a research interest can look forward to get either a Masters degree (M.Optom / M.Phil) or a Ph.D. Optometry research in the country is still in its very early days and there is a huge opportunity for the coming years in this area.
Public health / Community Optometrist: A handful of government and non-governmental organization are involved in the noble cause of eradicating preventable blindness from all over the world by the year 2020 (Vision 2020: The right to sight). Those who are interested in community eye care has immense openings nationally & internationally.

SPECIALIZATION OPPORTUNITIES
Most of the Optometrists practice primary eye care comprehensively and manage all forms of visual disorders. However, they can focus their practice on treating a selected population or visual condition. These specialization areas include Cornea & Contact Lens, Low vision & Rehabilitation, Vision Therapy, Binocular Vision, Sports Vision etc.