PLEASE HELP ME I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT Describe the job responsibilities of optometrists. How do they determine if people have eye problems? How can they treat people with eye problems? Support your response with information from the lesson.
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Have you ever had an eye exam? Or trouble with your vision? If so, you've likely visited an optometrist. Optometrists are eye doctors who treat and prevent vision problems and eye disorders. If you have strong math, science, and communication skills—and you're interested in an occupation helping people—you might want to consider a career in optometry.

Here's some information to help you know if optometry is right for you:

Duties and Work Environment

An optometrist conducts examinations to determine eye health and visual acuity, while checking for multifarious vision problems, injuries, and infections. Depending on the findings of the eye exam, the optometrist might prescribe eyeglasses, contact lenses, medication, or vision therapy. Optometrists also remove foreign substances from eyes and help obviate the need for vision treatment by counseling patients about proper eye care.

Some optometrists specialize in a certain area, such as pediatric optometry, geriatric optometry, or pre- and post-operative eye care for patients undergoing eye surgery. Some specialize in treating patients with "low vision," a condition in which the patient has partial or no eyesight.

Most optometrists work in optometry offices, either running their own practices or working with other optometrists, while some work in clinics located inside retail stores, hospitals, or medical offices. Optometrists who operate their own offices typically have administrative responsibilities, such as keeping records, ordering supplies, and hiring staff.

(Optometrists should not be confused with ophthalmologists or dispensing opticians. Ophthalmologists are physicians who often have the same duties as optometrists but also perform eye surgeries. Dispensing opticians fit and adjust eyeglasses. In some states, they also fill prescriptions written by optometrists.)

Skills Needed

Since they must analyze and evaluate the results of an exam and decide the most prudent course of treatment, optometrists should have good decision-making skills. They should also be friendly and have good interpersonal and communication skills, as they spend a great deal of their time working with patients, helping them feel at ease during vision tests, explaining explicit eye care instructions, and answering questions.

Schooling Needed

Prospective optometrists must obtain a BS, including classes in biology, chemistry, physics, English, and mathematics in their course of study. Then, they must complete an accredited Doctor of Optometry program, which generally takes four years and includes classes in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, optics, and visual science, as well as supervised clinical experience. Because only about 20 colleges in the U. S. have accredited optometry programs, gaining acceptance to these programs can be competitive. After earning a doctorate, some optometrists complete a one-year residency program in order to specialize in a particular area of care. Before going into practice, an optometrist must obtain a state license.

Earnings and Hours

Based on the most recent salary data from the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual income for optometrists is about $95,000, though some earn much more.

Most optometrists work full time, though some work evenings and weekends in order to accommodate the schedules of their patients.

Future Outlook

The future looks bright for optometrists. According to the BLS, job opportunities for optometrists are expected to increase 33 percent by 2020, an increase due largely to the aging U. S. population. As people grow older, they are more likely to experience vision trouble. Also, more people today are afflicted with chronic diseases (such as diabetes) that affect eyesight and require optometric care. In addition, a large number of optometrists are expected to retire by 2020, opening up job opportunities for new optometrists.