Optometrists traditionally prescribe eye glasses, contact lenses, vision therapy, and low-vision aids for the correction of visual disorders. An optometrist must have manual dexterity and pay attention to detail. Areas of Specialization Optometrists may specialize in the treatment of children, elderly, or partially-sighted people who must use microscopic or telescopic lenses. Others may concentrate on contact lenses or vision therapy. Some optometrists also do research, teach, or consult.
Most optometrists work in their own offices either alone or in a group practice.
However, some may also hold positions at vision care centers or clinics in addition to their private practices. Many work 40 to 50 hours a week and may remain open in the evenings and on Saturdays to accommodate their patients' needs. The work is usually in comfortable surroundings and is not physically demanding. Optometrists who serve in the military are commissioned as the equivalent of a captain or higher. This growth is due to both the aging of the baby-boom generation and the growing number of elderly.