Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Glaucoma Specialist
- Ophthalmologist
- Physician
- Retina Specialist
Alternate Job Titles
- Clinical Ophthalmologist
- Cornea and External Disease Physician
- Cornea Specialist
- Glaucoma Specialist
- Medical Doctor (MD)
- Neuro-Ophthalmologist
- Oculoplastic Specialist
- Ophthalmic Surgeon
- Ophthalmologist
- Ophthalmologist Specialist
- Ophthalmology Physician
- Physician
- Refractive Surgeon
- Retina Specialist
- Surgical Ophthalmologist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Perform ophthalmic surgeries such as cataract, glaucoma, refractive, corneal, vitro-retinal, eye muscle, or oculoplastic surgeries.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
- Administration and Management
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Inductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
- Written Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Integrity
- Self-Control
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Independence
- Recognition
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
- Epic Systems
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Automated external defibrillators AED
- Autorefractors
- Binocular indirect ophthalmoscopes
- Conjunctival sac scissors
- Corneal scissors
- Corneal topographers
- Diagnostic exophthalmometers
- Diagnostic ophthalmoscope sets
- Digital still cameras
- Electrosurgical coagulation units
- Evisceration scoops
- Eye speculums
- Eye surgery lasers
- Eye test lens sets
- Handheld tonometers
Work Environment
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Frequency of Decision Making
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $104,240 |
| Median | >$239,200 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | >$239,200 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 12,110
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Pediatric Surgeons
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: >$239,200
Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: >$239,200
Cardiologists
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: >$239,200
Dermatologists
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: >$239,200
Optometrists
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $134,830
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.