Employment of optometrists is expected to grow
as fast as average for all
occupations through 2016, in response to the vision care needs of a growing
and aging population. Greater recognition of the importance of vision care,
along with growth in employee vision care plans, will also spur job growth.Employment change.
Employment of optometrists is projected to grow 11 percent between 2006
and 2016. A growing population that recognizes the importance of good eye
care will increase demand for optometrists. Also, an increasing number of
health insurance plans that include vision care, should generate more job
growth.
As the population ages, there will likely be more visits to optometrists
and ophthalmologists because of the onset of vision problems that occur at
older ages, such as cataracts and glaucoma. In addition, increased
incidences of diabetes and hypertension in the general population as well as
in the elderly will generate greater demand for optometric services as these
diseases often affect eyesight.
Employment of optometrists would grow more rapidly if not for
productivity gains expected to allow each optometrist to see more patients.
These expected gains stem from greater use of optometric assistants and
other support personnel, who can reduce the amount of time optometrists need
with each patient.
The increasing popularity of laser surgery to correct some vision
problems may reduce some of the demand for optometrists as patients often do
not require eyeglasses afterward. But optometrists still will be needed to
provide preoperative and postoperative care for laser surgery patients.
Job prospects. Job opportunities for optometrists should be
very good over the next
decade. Demand is expected to be much higher, and because there are only 16
schools of optometry, the number of students who can get a degree in
optometry is limited. In addition to growth, the need to replace
optometrists who retire or leave the occupation for other reasons will
create more employment opportunities.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,
Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition
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