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Watch a TED Talk about empathy.

Find a local optometrist or optometry office and ask if you can talk to them about what their work is like. Prepare some questions and research beforehand so that you can make the most of the opportunity.

Interview someone who works at an optometry office.

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Optometrists

Diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Examine eyes and visual system, diagnose problems or impairments, prescribe corrective lenses, and provide treatment. May prescribe therapeutic drugs to treat specific eye conditions.

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations

Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners

Examine eyes, using observation, instruments, and pharmaceutical agents, to determine visual acuity and perception, focus, and coordination and to diagnose diseases and other abnormalities, such as glaucoma or color blindness.

Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.

Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.

Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.

Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, and safety factors.

Provide patients undergoing eye surgeries, such as cataract and laser vision correction, with pre- and post-operative care.

Consult with and refer patients to ophthalmologist or other health care practitioner if additional medical treatment is determined necessary.

Optometrists

Overview

Career

What Optometrists Do

Other Job Titles Optometrists May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Optometrists

Overview

Career

What Optometrists Do

Other Job Titles Optometrists May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Optometrists

Majors Related to Career

Related Careers

Related Leaders