Optometrists
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Optometrists examine eyes to diagnose and manage eye disease. They prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses as well as recommend treatments to correct vision problems.
Job Titles
Duties
Optometrists:
- Examine patients’ eyes, conduct tests and use instruments to assess eye health
- Diagnose, monitor and use non-surgical treatments to deal with eye diseases, such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration
- Spot signs of overall health issues, such as diabetes and high blood pressure
- Refer patients to ophthalmologists (for further medical treatment or eye surgery) and other medical professionals, as needed
- Prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses
- Educate patients on contact lens use and care
- Provide information on eye care
- Prescribe medications
- Remove foreign matter from the eye
- See patients before and after eye surgeries
Optometrists may specialize in areas, including dry eye care, vision therapy, low vision treatment and specialty contact lens fitting.
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
840% Employed Full Time
28%Most optometrists work in their own private practice, a group practice, a clinic or a community health centre. Some have a practice within a retail eyewear store.
Optometrists generally keep regular business hours. Occasionally, they may be called in after hours for an emergency. Many offices are also open on Saturdays. Optometrists working in a private or group practice may be able to choose when and how many hours they work.
Optometrists deal one-on-one with patients. They also often work as a team with ophthalmologists and other health-care professionals.
Career Pathways
Most new optometrists join an established optometrist’s practice. New graduates enjoy the mentorship this can provide.
After gaining experience, some will open their own practice, either independently or in partnership with other optometrists.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Optometrists need a four-year Doctor of Optometry degree, which includes in-class learning and supervised hands-on experience. Most optometry schools require students to have first completed a four-year bachelor’s degree in science. A few accept students with three years of undergraduate study.
Optometrists must also be licensed by the College of Optometrists of British Columbia. This process includes an exam.
Once working, optometrists must continue to develop their knowledge and skills to stay up to date with advances in eye care.
Workers coming to B.C.
Optometrists who are certified by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information, such as a letter of good standing, references or a criminal record check.
Workers who trained outside of Canada
Optometrists who trained outside of Canada and have never received certification from a Canadian jurisdiction will likely need a full assessment. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants. Contact the College of Optometrists of BC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
840Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 15 | 1.8% |
| Kootenay | 30 | 3.6% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 535 | 63.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 15 | 1.8% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 85 | 10.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 155 | 18.5% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
390Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 1.1% |
| Kootenay | 10 | 1.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 240 | 1.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 1.2% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 40 | 1.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 70 | 2.5% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 370 |
| Retail Trade | 20 |
Insights from Industry
As B.C.’s population expands and ages, the demand for optometrists is increasing. Retirements are also expected to bring about many new openings. Demand for optometrists is especially high in smaller communities.
Optometrists play an important role in the overall health of their patients. The early signs of many conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure, are visible first in the eyes.
New technologies continue to offer better ways for optometrists to diagnose and manage eye disease.
Resources
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BC Doctors of Optometrybc.doctorsofoptometry.ca
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Canadian Association of Optometristsopto.ca
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College of Optometrists of British Columbiaoptometrybc.com
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Eye Recommendwww.eyerecommend.ca
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of an optometrist is like.
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of an optometrist is like.
