Eye Medicine Work field: Positions You Might Not Have Considered
The medical field is incredibly unique to other careers in its vast variety of occupations as there are even subcategories within each branch of work. While this is hugely beneficial as it provides a greater opportunity for every pupil to find their perfect match, it can be especially overwhelming for many students who are still unsure of the profession they want to go into. The compensation for students once they review through an accumulation of information is the newfound sense of security once they discover a usually disregarded career option and realize that there is an occupation that is best suited for them. Ophthalmology is one of the specialties that interest many prospective medical professionals for it’s distinct focus on the human eyes. However, the idea of surgery, especially on such a small surface area, can be particularly daunting for some and steer them away from this pathway completely. The following article is a list compiled of the essential occupations under the umbrella of eye medicine in consecutive order from the most required academic schooling to the least.
Ophthalmologist
The most recognized branch of medicine specifying on the eye is ophthalmology, a division that specializes in the anatomy, function and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a physician who specializes in the surgical care of the eyes and the prevention of eye disease. They are secondary-level healthcare providers and have the initials “M.D.” (Doctor of Medicine) or “D.O.” (Doctor of Osteopathy) after their name. A referral is usually required from patients to obtain an appointment for medical or surgical treatment such as cataract surgery. The process to this final title is the longest one among this article as after completion of a Bachelor Degree as well as four years of medical school and one year of internship, all ophthalmologists spend a minimum of three years of residency (hospital-based training) in ophthalmology. Some ophthalmologists consider spending an additional year or two training in a subspecialty. Either way, all ophthalmologists are required to continue education requirements to stay current regarding the latest standards of care even once starting employment. An ophthalmologist is responsible for vision services, including eye exams, medical eye care for conditions like glaucoma, surgical eye care for trauma, and other diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions related to diseases. Many ophthalmologists are also involved in scientific research into the causes and cures for eye diseases and vision problems.
Orthoptist
This speciality is a relatively smaller group of professionals that act as certified allied health professionals, more commonly working in paediatric ophthalmology settings. Orthoptists are exceptionally skilled in diagnostic techniques to help evaluate and treat patients with visual system disorders with a concentration on binocular vision and eye movements. While distant from the limelight, orthoptists share a significant role working with ophthalmologists to impact patient care. Orthoptists work with patients of all ages, however, the general nature of many binocular disorders tend to affect children more effectively, causing a high population of youth as patients for this occupation. The academic load is slightly lighter for orthoptists as an orthoptist must finish only a bachelor’s degree in addition to a post-graduate two-year orthoptic fellowship in an accredited program.
Optometrist
Optometrists are given the role of primary care eye doctors as their speciality has an emphasis on general health, the visual system and related structures of the eye. Similarly to ophthalmologists, an optometrist considers detection of eye disease and has an understanding of function and disorders of the eye. However, unlike ophthalmologists, optometrists will have the initials “O.D.” (Doctor of Optometry) after their name. To earn this title, there is an intricate academic route to follow. Prior to admittance into optometry school, optometrist’s must complete four years of undergraduate study for a bachelor’s degree, then complete a four-year postgraduate program in optometry school to earn the Doctor of Optometry degree. Some optometrists go on to complete one or two year residencies for specific sub-specialities and are all required to fulfill continuing education requirements. An optometrist is the primary healthcare provider and are responsible for conducting eye examinations, assessing measuring and diagnosing disorders, fitting and dispensing corrective contact lenses and glasses, as well as prescribing medications to treat inflammation allergies and infections and providing referrals to secondary specialists.
Optician
Finally, opticians are the third member of the eye care team. Opticians have the lowest amount of formal training as they have a mandatory 1–2 year degree education and the need for a certificate or diploma to fabricate and fit vision aids, such as glasses, based on the prescription of a doctor of optometry or physician. However, this lack of specialization is apparent in the limit of tasks opticians are able to complete as they don’t assess, diagnose, or treat eye conditions, nor can they check or write prescriptions for eyeglasses or contact lenses. They’re collection of duties are to provide, adjust, and repair glasses, frames, and contact lenses, take facial measurements and order and check products, including contacts and eyeglass lenses.
To conclude, the world of eye medicine is not limited to the most common occupancies and by taking a step closer to record your priorities in a profession and the type of work that is most rewarding to you, you can make an informed decision on a future career personalized for you.
We hope that this post provided you insight into different eye careers available! Stay tuned for more blog posts from OYMS! Be sure to check out our new website, and follow us on Instagram at our handle @ontarioyouthmedsociety.
About the writer: Raheleh Najafi is an incoming senior at Newmarket High School. She is starting her own path to one day becoming an ophthalmologist and as a result finds herself becoming more and more involved in extracurriculars fixating around medicine. Raheleh especially finds importance in clubs that offer transparency and accessibility to promote equal opportunity in the medical field and the process to post-secondary pathways. She continues to advocate for this goal as a member of PuMP (prospective medical professionals). In her free time, Raheleh enjoys writing, rollerblading, and journaling. To keep up with Raheleh, follow her on her LinkedIn!
