Optometry.

Degree Overview

Optometry (CIP 51.1701) is a professional healthcare field dedicated to the examination, diagnosis, treatment, and management of vision and eye-related conditions. Optometrists are primary eye care providers who play a critical role in detecting vision problems, prescribing corrective lenses, managing eye diseases, and identifying early signs of systemic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and neurological disorders through comprehensive eye exams.

For a degree search site, Optometry represents a highly respected, science-driven healthcare career with strong autonomy, job stability, and patient impact. It appeals to students who want to become licensed healthcare professionals, enjoy precision work and patient interaction, and prefer a medical career path that emphasizes long-term patient relationships without surgery-heavy training.

What Is an Optometry Degree?

An Optometry degree leads to the Doctor of Optometry (OD), a professional doctoral credential required to practice as a licensed optometrist. This is a graduate-level program that follows completion of a bachelor’s degree with required science prerequisites.

Optometrists are not medical doctors (MDs), but they are licensed healthcare providers with extensive training in eye health, vision science, and disease management. In many states, optometrists are authorized to prescribe medications, manage chronic eye conditions, and provide pre- and post-operative care in collaboration with ophthalmologists.

This degree typically focuses on:

• Vision science and ocular anatomy
• Comprehensive eye examinations and diagnostics
• Treatment and management of eye diseases
• Prescribing corrective lenses and vision therapy
• Patient care, ethics, and clinical decision-making

Optometry schools offer this degree to:

• Prepare students for independent clinical eye care practice
• Address growing demand for vision and eye health services
• Train primary eye care providers for diverse populations
• Support careers in private practice, healthcare systems, and specialty care

Graduates must pass national and state licensing exams to practice.

What Will You Learn?

Students in optometry programs learn how vision works, how eye diseases develop, and how to diagnose and manage visual and ocular conditions across the lifespan. The curriculum is science-intensive and clinically focused, combining classroom learning with hands-on patient care.

Early coursework emphasizes biomedical sciences such as anatomy, physiology, optics, neuroscience, pharmacology, and pathology. As students progress, training shifts toward clinical diagnosis, patient examination techniques, disease management, and treatment planning. Students examine real patients under faculty supervision in on-campus clinics and external rotations.

Optometry education also emphasizes communication skills, ethical practice, and understanding how eye health connects to overall systemic health.

Core Skills You’ll Build

Graduates of optometry programs typically develop:

• Comprehensive eye examination skills
• Diagnosis of vision and ocular disorders
• Prescription of eyeglasses and contact lenses
• Management of eye diseases and conditions
• Use of advanced diagnostic imaging and equipment
• Clinical decision-making and treatment planning
• Patient communication and long-term care management
• Professional ethics and healthcare responsibility

These skills support independent practice and collaborative care with other healthcare providers.

Topics You May Explore

Coursework in an optometry program commonly includes:

• Geometric and Physiological Optics
• Ocular Anatomy and Physiology
• Visual Neuroscience and Perception
• Ocular Disease and Pathology
• Pharmacology for Eye Care
• Contact Lens Theory and Fitting
• Pediatric and Geriatric Optometry
• Binocular Vision and Vision Therapy
• Clinical Rotations and Patient Care

Some optometrists pursue optional residencies in specialties such as ocular disease, pediatrics, low vision, or sports vision.

What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?

An Optometry degree prepares graduates for licensed clinical practice as primary eye care providers.

Common career paths include:

• General Optometrist
• Optometrist in Private or Group Practice
• Medical Optometrist (Ocular Disease Focus)
• Pediatric or Geriatric Optometry Specialist
• Academic or Clinical Educator
• Optometry Practice Owner or Partner
• Industry or Research Optometrist

Some optometrists also work in public health, military healthcare, or vision research.

Where Can You Work?

Licensed optometrists work in a wide range of healthcare settings:

• Private optometry practices
• Group practices and vision care chains
• Hospitals and medical centers
• Ophthalmology and specialty clinics
• Academic institutions and optometry schools
• Veterans Affairs and military health systems
• Vision research or medical device companies

Optometry offers flexibility, geographic mobility, and opportunities for practice ownership.

How Much Can You Earn?

Optometry offers strong and stable earning potential.

Typical ranges include:

• Newly licensed optometrists often earn $110,000–$140,000
• Experienced optometrists commonly earn $140,000–$180,000
• Practice owners or specialists can exceed $200,000+

Income varies by location, patient volume, specialization, and ownership status.

Is This Degree Hard?

Optometry is academically rigorous and clinically demanding. Students must master advanced science coursework while developing precision-based clinical skills. Programs are competitive, and success requires strong study habits, attention to detail, and comfort working directly with patients.

The challenge lies in balancing intensive scientific learning with hands-on clinical performance.

Who Should Consider This Degree?

This degree may be a strong fit if you:

• Are interested in healthcare and vision science
• Enjoy working with patients long-term
• Prefer a medical career with work-life balance potential
• Like precision, diagnostics, and problem-solving
• Want professional autonomy and stability

How to Prepare in High School and College

To prepare for optometry:

• Take biology, chemistry, physics, and math courses
• Develop strong study discipline and science foundations
• Shadow licensed optometrists to understand daily practice
• Build experience in healthcare or vision-related settings
• Complete required pre-optometry prerequisites and entrance exams

Optometry (CIP 51.1701) is a rewarding and future-proof healthcare profession that combines science, technology, and patient-centered care. It offers excellent job stability, meaningful patient relationships, and strong earning potential without the intensity of surgical medical specialties. For students who value precision, independence, and long-term impact on quality of life, optometry provides a respected and fulfilling path within modern healthcare.