Optometrists meet with patients and perform different tests to determine common eyesight issues, such as near- or farsightedness, for which they can prescribe glasses or contacts. They can also test patients for eye diseases, such as glaucoma, for which they can prescribe medicines. Optometrists can also perform vision therapy for other issues, such as eye-movement or eye-tracking problems. Sometimes optometrists run across a problem like diabetic retinopathy, which is symptomatic of a systemic problem like diabetes. 

Eyesight is invaluable for everyday tasks like walking through a doorway or driving a car and also for pleasures like watching a sunset, reading a book or a viewing a film. If you were to take a poll on which of the five senses are most important to people, sight would probably be high on the list. That’s why an optometrist’s job is so important. "We want to help patients achieve their best vision on a day-to-day basis," says Teri Geist, a practicing optometrist and American Optometric Association trustee. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8.8% employment growth for optometrists between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 3,800 jobs should open up.

Most optometrists start with a bachelor’s degree. But all prospective optometrists must take and pass the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) to get into an optometry school. They’ll then need to complete a four-year Doctor of Optometry program, which is a mix of classroom courses and supervised clinical work. Next comes the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, which is an exam that all hopeful optometrists need to pass for a license to practice. Some states have additional licensing requirements, but all have continuing education requirements. Optometrists can also subspecialize by doing a residency program in an area such as pediatric optometry or ocular disease. Should optometrists want to display an advanced level of learning, they can take the American Board of Optometry exam. Having a board certification might open more career opportunities.