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Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric

O*NET files this work under Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric: people who diagnose and perform surgery to treat and help prevent disorders and diseases of the eye. The skills rated most useful are reading comprehension, critical thinking, and active listening. A regular part of the work is to perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders. With a code of ISR, this is mostly a job for people drawn to research, analysis and working through hard problems. Social interests also help, rated 5.5 out of 7. Getting in usually takes graduate school and often five years or more of related experience, a level O*NET calls extensive preparation. If you want research, analysis and working through hard problems, keep it on your list. If you need creative work with room for original expression, it may feel thin.

What they do

Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and help prevent disorders and diseases of the eye. May also provide vision services for treatment including glasses and contacts.

Main tasks

  • Perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.
  • Diagnose or treat injuries, disorders, or diseases of the eye and eye structures including the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva, or eyelids.
  • Provide or direct the provision of postoperative care.
  • Develop or implement plans and procedures for ophthalmologic services.
  • Prescribe or administer topical or systemic medications to treat ophthalmic conditions and to manage pain.
  • Develop treatment plans based on patients' histories and goals, the nature and severity of disorders, and treatment risks and benefits.

Skills

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Social Perceptiveness

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
  • You get energy from helping other people move forward.
  • You are prepared for graduate-level study and a long training path.
  • You are comfortable relying on reading comprehension and critical thinking.

May not suit you if

  • You lose interest when a job asks for long stretches of analysis.
  • You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.7 out of 7 here.
  • You want to be working in the field within the next few years.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ISR takes the three highest, and Investigative comes first here.

Preparation

Extensive preparation. Many jobs here need graduate study, and people often spend five years or more building specialist experience.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Doctoral Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Clinical Ophthalmologist
  • Cornea Specialist
  • Glaucoma Specialist
  • Oculoplastic Specialist
  • Ophthalmic Surgeon

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.