|
Industry Profile -- by Mike Kimmel
An aging population is creating many employment opportunities in the eye care industry. As people age, their eyes tend to work less effectively, requiring many to turn to glasses, contact lenses or surgery for optical correction. Skilled professionals are in demand in this in field at all levels.
Employment in this industry ranges from optometrists who examine patients' eyes, to optical technicians who assemble and repair eyeglasses to ophthalmologists who perform eye surgeries, to ocularists, the people who make ocular prosthetics (fake eyes).
Manual dexterity, strong communication skills, and the ability to analyze test results are paramount to succeed in this industry. Patience and excellent vision are also important elements for someone pursuing a career in eye care. Having a comprehensive knowledge of the latest trends, issues, and developments on eye research are essential.
Educational requirements vary greatly depending on the career of choice. For example, an optometrist requires at least six years of post-secondary education, whereas an optical technician may be trained on the job. The provincial government expects most eye care positions to grow at an average rate until 2005. The following is a list of potential eye care careers:
Opticians fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, low vision and other optical appliances in accordance to prescriptions. Advising customers on lens types, taking measurements, and assembling or ordering eyeglasses are other regular duties. Strong communication skills, finger dexterity and the ability to stand for long periods of time are required traits. On-the-job training combined with two-year programs for glasses and contact lens fitting is required.
- Pay will range from $14,000 to $39,000 a year
- Average growth is expected to the year 2005
Optometrists examine patients' eyes, identify diseases, prescribe eyeglasses, and provide non-surgical treatments such as medications. Measuring the eye and visual functions, prescribing eye exercises and counselling patients on various eye conditions are other typical duties. Keeping up to date on new discoveries and excellent communication skills are essential for this position. A minimum of six years post-secondary education is necessary.
- Pay will range from $81,000 to $165,000 per year
- Above average growth is expected to the year 2005
Optical technicians produce and mend eyeglasses according to prescriptions from ophthalmologists or optometrists. Cutting, grinding and buffing lenses to exact measurements are regular duties in lab environments. Strong mechanical inclination, attention to detail and patience are necessary traits. There are no standard educational requirements.
- Pay will range from $7.00 to $17.00 an hour
-
- Average growth rate is expected to the year 2005
-
Ocularists build and construct ocular prosthetics by matching the fake eye with the good eye to get the exact colour, size and fit. Manual dexterity, good vision, mechanical inclination and excellent communication skills are essential. Opening a private practice is not uncommon for an ocularist, although there are only 13 in Canada.
- Job growth rate is extremely limited
Orthoptists are eye muscle specialists who commonly work with the misalignment of peoples' eyes. Orthoptists work in conjunction with ophthalmologists and most often work with children. Attention to detail and solid communication skills are required. A bachelor of science degree in addition to two-years of hospital-based training is required.
- Pay ranges from $21 to over $28 an hour in Calgary hospitals
- Job growth is limited as only six orthoptists are trained every two years
Ophthalmologists are the designated leaders of the eye care teams in their clinic or hospital. Ophthalmologists, who are medical doctors with additional years of specialized training, work intimately with other team members including orthoptists, nurses, general physicians and ophthalmic technicians. Ophthalmologists diagnose, treat and manage all kinds of eye problems through various means, including surgery.
- Pay for specialists is about $230,000 a year
- Average growth rate is expected to the year 2005
There are three levels of ophthalmic technicians all who help eye doctors perform their work. The levels are certified ophthalmic assistants (COA), certified ophthalmic technicians (COT) and certified medical ophthalmic technicians (COMT). Taking patients' histories, performing various tests and testing equipment are all duties carried out by ophthalmic technicians. On-the-job training and formal training are the two main routes for one pursuing a career in this field. All must first be hired by an ophthalmologist before beginning training. See the Eduction/training section in Jump Start for more details.
- Certified ophthalmic assistants can earn $12.50 to $14.50 per hour
- Certified ophthalmic technicians can earn $14.50 to $16.50 per hour
- Certified ophthalmic medical technicians can earn $16.50 to $24.50 an hour
|
