Optometrist
Also known as: Clinical Optometrist · Optometrist Associate · Eye Care Optometrist
Tests vision and prescribes glasses or contact lenses in eye hospitals and optical stores.
What you’d do
An optometrist tests vision, checks the eyes for common problems, and prescribes and fits glasses and contact lenses. Employers include eye hospitals, ophthalmology clinics, optical retail stores and lens manufacturers. A day is mostly patient examinations: refraction, basic eye-health checks, lens fitting and referring patients to an ophthalmologist when needed.
- Test vision and measure refractive error
- Prescribe and fit glasses and lenses
- Screen for eye conditions and refer cases
- Counsel patients on eye care
How you get in
Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (some colleges also accept Mathematics), then a B.Optom or B.Sc Optometry. After the internship, freshers usually start as optometrists in eye hospitals, clinics or optical stores.
Salary in India
Fresher salary over the years
middle of the 0–1 yr range, ₹ lakh a year
Fewer than two years of fresher data so far — the trend shows once there are two.
Skills you’ll use
From our guide · a curated list is coming
- Refraction and prescribing corrective lenses
- Using a slit lamp and other eye-testing equipment
- Fitting and following up contact lenses
- Screening for conditions that need referral
- Explaining eye care to patients clearly
About this field · for freshers
Job openings by year
Is demand growing?
Not added yet.
Competition
How many graduates enter each year?
Not added yet.
Who hires
IT firms, banks, government, startups?
Not added yet.
Where the jobs are
Which cities?
Not added yet.
Women in the field
Is it diverse?
Not added yet.
At a glance
- Specialisations include contact lenses, low vision, paediatric optometry and binocular vision.
- Some optometrists open their own optical practice after a few years.
- Surgery and most medical treatment are outside the role; those patients are referred to an ophthalmologist.
Stay safe
No legitimate employer ever asks you to pay to get a job.