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Overview
Optometrists examine eyes, test vision, identify visual problems or possible disease, prescribe and fit spectacles or contact lenses and advise patients on vision care.
In job descriptions, look for refraction, visual system diagnosis, optical instruments, contact lens advice, patient communication, ophthalmic equipment quality and referral routines.
Explore this occupation
Open in Job ExplorerWhat the work can involve
Optometrist work combines eye examinations, vision testing, lens fitting and patient advice. A day may include refraction, checking the visual system, using optical instruments, explaining results and deciding when a patient should be referred to medical care.
Skills and specializations
Key skills include refraction of the eye, diagnosing visual system problems, maintaining ophthalmic equipment quality, advising on spectacles and contact lenses, and communicating clearly with patients. Some roles add vision rehabilitation, domiciliary eyecare or inventory and retail responsibilities.
Salary context
Pay depends on clinical scope, patient volume, equipment responsibility, lens fitting complexity, appointment autonomy and whether the role includes retail management or specialist vision services. Settings with broader clinical judgement and referral decisions carry different responsibility from routine optical sales support.
Career paths
Career paths can develop through contact lens expertise, paediatric or low-vision support, practice management, clinical quality work, domiciliary services or collaboration with medical eye-care teams. Continuing experience with instruments and patient communication helps broaden the role.
Good to know
When reading vacancies, check the expected examinations, instruments, contact lens work, referral process and sales or practice duties. Also note whether the advert names independent appointments, supervision, domiciliary visits or collaboration with ophthalmologists and other health professionals.
Editorial note
This guide is editorial career context. It is not official labour-market statistics or role-specific salary data.
Map overview
Click the map to search for optometrist jobs.
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O*NET relationships
See occupations connected to this ESCO occupation in the official O*NET–ESCO mapping. The relationship type comes from the source and is not a ranking or recommendation.
O*NET relationships: 5
Orthoptists
29-1299.02
Close relationship
The occupations are closely related, but the official mapping does not treat them as exact equivalents.
Open in O*NETOphthalmic Medical Technicians
29-2057.00
Close relationship
The occupations are closely related, but the official mapping does not treat them as exact equivalents.
Open in O*NETOphthalmologists, Except Pediatric
29-1241.00
Close relationship
The occupations are closely related, but the official mapping does not treat them as exact equivalents.
Open in O*NETOptometrists
29-1041.00
Exact relationship
The official mapping treats the O*NET and ESCO occupations as closely equivalent.
Open in O*NETOphthalmic Medical Technologists
29-2099.05
Close relationship
The occupations are closely related, but the official mapping does not treat them as exact equivalents.
Open in O*NETSource and method
These relationships come from the official European Commission O*NET–ESCO crosswalk.
Relationship direction: O*NET occupation to ESCO occupation.
Several O*NET occupations can point to the same ESCO occupation, and one O*NET occupation can point to several ESCO occupations.
AltoTrail preserves the source relationship type. The order is technical and does not show which occupation is best, most relevant or recommended.
AltoTrail validates and presents the source relationships without adding ranking or recommendation semantics.
Alternative labels
Occupation group
Optometrists and ophthalmic opticians (2267)
Source facts
| ESCO URI | http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/bffbe18a-cb8b-4f90-bd87-7505cd3b16f5 |
|---|---|
| ESCO code | 2267.1 |
| ISCO group | 2267 |
| Concept type | Occupation |