Career Overlap Occupation record
RecordJob

Where an optometrist can go next

5 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role an optometrist already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.

Optometrists examine and test eyes to identify abnormalities, visual problems, or disease. They prescribe and fit lenses such as spectacles and contacts, and offer advice on visual problems. They may also refer patients to a medical practitioner. Their scope of practice and title varies according to national regulations.

Also known as specialist in optometry, optometry practitioner, expert optometrist, specialist optometrist, practitioner of optometry, optometric expert, ophthalmic optician.

Professionals 60 skills on file 5 career moves 2 above 60% overlap Closest: healthcare assistant, 67%

Fig. 2 · Career map 5 nearest · ESCO v1.2.1
healthcare assistant 67% covered physiotherapy assistant 61% covered dental hygienist 59% covered optician 59% covered dental chairside assistant 55% covered optometrist You are here
  • 70% and above · short step
  • 50 to 70% · real move
  • Below 50% · substantial retraining
The 5 nearest destinations from optometrist, each one a link to that move’s record. Distance from the centre is how much retraining the move takes; the figure on each is how much of that role an optometrist already covers. All 5 are listed in the tables below.
Table 1

Table 1 · Within reach

Table 2

Table 2 · A bigger jump

Possible, but expect real retraining rather than a sideways step.

Table 3

Table 3 · What the job itself asks for

An optometrist needs 46 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.

Required skill Area
  • fit contact lenses assisting and caring
  • perform comprehensive eye examinations information skills
  • perform ocular tonometry information skills
  • refraction of the eye health and welfare
  • advise on contact lense maintenance communication, collaboration and creativity
  • advise patients on vision improvement conditions communication, collaboration and creativity
  • diagnose problems of the visual system information skills
  • prescribe corrective lenses assisting and caring
  • promote ocular health communication, collaboration and creativity
  • provide therapy of the visual system assisting and caring
Table 4

Table 4 · Jobs that lead here

The reverse view: occupations whose skills already cover much of what an optometrist does. The figure is how much of this job each one brings.

Index

Look up another occupation

Optometrist is filed under Professionals, ISCO major group 2. The full index lists all ten groups.

Note

How these figures were compiled

Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of an optometrist’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.