If you’ve ever sat on an optometrist’s chair with the big lens contraption in front of your face and asked yourself, How often do optometrists actually do this? I would love to explain it to you.
Behind those calm, collected professionals checking your vision is a career that’s a lot more complex than people assume.
If you’re considering a career in optometry, trying to book an appointment, planning for eye care needs, or simply searching for information, this article will help you understand how often eye doctor College Station work and the five hidden truths that people hardly discuss about optometrists.
Now let’s get into it:
1. Optometrists Don’t All Work 9 to 5
When people ask how often optometrists work, they’re usually thinking of a traditional full-time job, and yes, that’s common. However, most optometrists work in offices or optical goods stores.
They usually work full-time, but part-time work is also common, and schedules may vary to include evenings and weekends. Others work part-time or own their own practices, adjusting their schedules to accommodate patient demand and their personal lifestyle.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that most optometrists work full-time, with approximately 67% working around 40 hours per week. But the working hours are more flexible than you might imagine.
So, the answer is that it depends on where they work and what they want out of life.
The BLS stated that the medium annual wage for optometrists ranged from $119,860 to $133,210 and from $145,020 to $276,380, indicating that even with varying work hours, it’s a lucrative field.
2. Optometrists work in Both Private Practice and Corporate Clinics
Optometrists primarily work in clinical settings, including private optometry offices, hospitals, and retail vision centers. They may also work in community health centers, public health settings, and even in research and teaching institutions.
But one thing to note is that where an optometrist works drastically affects how often they work.
Private practice optometrists have more autonomy in their scheduling and business decisions, but this comes with the responsibility of managing both clinical and business aspects, which can result in longer working hours.
Corporate optometrists, like those in retail settings, generally have more structured workdays with fixed hours, typically 8-hour days, 5–6 days a week, with more patients to attend to, sometimes 15-25 in a single day.
In my opinion, that’s a lot, so it depends on what you’re willing to settle for.
3. Part-Time Is Common, Especially for Young Doctors
While full-time work is common in many medical fields, part-time positions are common, especially among younger doctors.
This can be based on several factors; some optometrists choose to work just 2–3 days a week to maintain a work-life balance or pursue other interests, such as technology, entrepreneurship, having children, or further education.
I would say that this flexible schedule can be appealing for women in the field, given that 70% of optometry school graduates are now female, according to the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry.
Also, part-time thrives because a shorter work week doesn’t necessarily mean lower earnings. Daily rates range from $300 to $600/day in some states, so a three-day workweek can still be worthwhile.
4. Some Optometrists Work Seasonally
Optometrists may work in temporary placements at clinics that are set up in specific locations for a limited time, offering seasonal work. These optometrists work between clinics, covering for those on vacation, maternity leave, or between hires.
Now, this style of work offers Travel opportunities, high daily pay, and no long-term commitments.
But it also means being flexible, adaptable, and sometimes working more hours per day during contracts. Some optometrists maintain this style of working for 6 months, then take the rest of the year off.
It’s essential to note that most optometrists hold more traditional, consistent positions. However, seasonal opportunities exist and can be a good fit for some optometrists who love variety and change.
5. Burnout Is Shaping Work Hours
Just like many healthcare professionals, optometrists aren’t immune to burnout. Staring into eyes all day, attending to different patients every day, and managing a tight schedule can sometimes be stressful.
According to an NIH survey, 1,436 optometrists responded, and 53.6% of the respondents reported symptoms of burnout, with 61.4% experiencing mild symptoms, 30.4% experiencing moderate symptoms, and 8.2% experiencing severe symptoms.
This has led many to adjust their hours, pursue side gigs, or invest more in technology that automates patient care and admin tasks.
Some are even shifting toward tele-optometry, which is the delivery of optometric care remotely through telehealth technologies.
It works by utilizing video conferencing and other digital tools to provide eye exams, consultations, and even some treatments, thereby eliminating the need for in-person visits for certain services, which has reshaped the frequency of optometrists’ work.
Optometrist Education and Training
In the United States, a number of optometry schools offer postgraduate programs. This means that you need to hold a bachelor’s degree before enrollment.
While some optometry schools may not mandate a degree for admission, you are still required to have completed essential college coursework in science and mathematics beforehand.
This is important because to gain admission to an optometry school, you typically need to achieve strong results on the Optometry Admission Test, Medical College Admission Test, Graduate Record Examinations, Dental Admission Test, or any other standardized assessment accepted by the school you wish to attend.
Optometry school consists of a four-year curriculum that covers everything related to human eyesight and the management of a practice, encompassing various areas.
Upon completing optometry school, you receive a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree. Following this, you must successfully pass the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) exam before you can apply for a practice license in your respective state.
Once you obtain your license, you also have the option to pursue a fellowship for additional clinical training or to focus on a particular patient group or eye condition.
Now, if you are reading this as someone interested in this field, I would say choose flexible hours. Optometry offers a career with significant flexibility in working hours, a major advantage for achieving a work-life balance.
Many optometrists can find part-time or flexible full-time positions, and some even have the option to set their own hours by owning a practice, and you can be one of them. This flexibility allows optometrists to tailor their schedules to their individual needs and preferences.
Now, if you are reading this because you are trying to book an appointment with an optometrist, in that case, before starting your quest for a trustworthy optometrist, it is important to identify your specific eye care requirements.
The professional you need will primarily depend on your circumstances. Are you facing any vision issues? Do you have a family history of eye diseases? Are you in need of a specialist for children’s eye care, or do you require someone knowledgeable about the eye care needs of seniors?
Recognizing your eye care requirements also means understanding what kind of eye care professional you should consult. An optometrist can, for example, identify and address vision issues, prescribe glasses or contact lenses, and spot certain eye conditions.
However, if surgical intervention is necessary, you’ll likely need to consult an ophthalmologist.
Also, your daily activities and profession might affect your eye care requirements. For instance, if you are a professional athlete or someone who works remotely, specialized eye care might be essential.
Conclusion
So, whether you’re eyeing this profession for yourself or just curious about how eye doctors live their lives, now you know. It’s not just a job; it’s a lens into a more flexible career path than most people imagine.
Our eyes are precious, and trying to find a trustworthy optometrist for your eye care needs may seem like a challenge, but it’s worth the effort.
If you’re ever in need of an eye clinic that doesn’t just treat your vision but values your time, care, and clarity, Crystal Vision Center sets the gold standard. They don’t just do the work; they do it well and with their heart.
