Career
Path Forecast
 According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
employment of optometrists is expected to grow as fast as average for
all occupations through 2016, in response to the vision care needs of a
growing and aging population. Greater recognition of the importance of
vision care, along with growth in employee vision care plans, will also
spur job growth.
Employment of optometrists is projected to grow 11 percent between 2006
and 2016. A growing population that recognizes the importance of good
eye care will increase demand for optometrists. Also, an increasing
number of health insurance plans that include vision care, should
generate more job growth.
As the population
ages, there will likely be more visits to optometrists and
ophthalmologists because of the onset of vision problems that occur at
older ages, such as cataracts and glaucoma. In addition, increased
incidences of diabetes and hypertension in the general population as
well as in the elderly will generate greater demand for optometric
services as these diseases often affect eyesight.
 Employment
of optometrists would grow more rapidly if not for productivity gains
expected to allow each optometrist to see more patients. These expected
gains stem from greater use of optometric assistants and other support
personnel, who can reduce the amount of time optometrists need with each
patient.
The increasing
popularity of laser surgery to correct some vision problems may reduce
some of the demand for optometrists as patients often do not require
eyeglasses afterward. But optometrists still will be needed to provide
preoperative and postoperative care for laser surgery patients.
Job opportunities for
optometrists should be very good over the next decade. Demand is
expected to be much higher, and because there are only a few accredited
optometry programs, the number of students who can get a degree in
optometry is limited. In addition to growth, the need to replace
optometrists who retire or leave the occupation for other reasons will
create more employment opportunities.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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