| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Allied Health |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Ophthalmologist |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | Fresher or up to 4 years in optometry |
Optometrist job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Optometrist
Department: Allied Health
Reports to: Ophthalmologist
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
An Optometrist tests eyes and vision, prescribes glasses and contact lenses, and screens for eye disease. They perform refraction and eye examinations, fit lenses, run diagnostic tests, and refer patients to the ophthalmologist when disease is found. The role reports to the Ophthalmologist or optical head. A good optometrist gives accurate prescriptions that patients see well with, screens carefully so eye disease is caught early, and guides patients on eye care and the right lenses for their needs.
Key responsibilities
- Take history and perform vision testing and refraction to find the right prescription.
- Examine the eyes and screen for conditions such as glaucoma, cataract and retinal disease.
- Prescribe and fit spectacles and contact lenses to the patient's needs.
- Run diagnostic tests such as tonometry, visual fields and fundus imaging.
- Refer patients with eye disease to the ophthalmologist with clear findings.
- Advise patients on eye care, lens options and use of contact lenses.
- Perform pre and post operative vision checks for eye surgery patients.
- Support paediatric and geriatric vision testing with suitable methods.
- Maintain optometry equipment and keep every instrument calibrated and in working order.
- Keep accurate records of every examination, prescription and referral in the system.
Requirements
- Bachelor or diploma in Optometry
- Registration where required
- Contact lens training is an advantage
- Fresher or up to 4 years in optometry
KRAs and KPIs for a Optometrist
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Prescription accuracy | Patients seeing well with the prescription with rechecks below the monthly target |
| Screening | Eye disease screening completed for every full examination |
| Referrals | Suspected disease referred to the ophthalmologist with complete findings |
| Patient throughput | Scheduled examinations completed to plan without rushing quality |
| Lens fitting | Contact lens fittings successful with no avoidable complication |
| Records | Examination and prescription records complete for every patient |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Phoropter and trial lens set, Slit lamp, Autorefractor, Tonometer, Visual field analyser.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Optometrist, Optometry Head, Clinical Optometrist
Interview questions for a Optometrist
- How do you perform a subjective refraction to reach the final prescription?
- How do you screen for glaucoma during a routine examination?
- How do you decide when to refer a patient to the ophthalmologist?
- How do you fit a first time contact lens wearer safely?
- How do you test vision in a young child who cannot read a chart?
- Tell me about a case where your screening caught a serious eye problem.
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What does an optometrist do?
An optometrist tests eyes and vision, prescribes glasses and contact lenses, and screens for eye disease. They perform refraction and eye examinations, fit lenses, run diagnostic tests such as tonometry and visual fields, and refer patients to the ophthalmologist when disease is found. They also advise patients on eye care and lens choices.
What is the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist?
An optometrist tests vision, prescribes glasses and lenses, and screens for eye disease, but does not perform surgery. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats eye disease and performs eye surgery. The optometrist often refers patients with disease to the ophthalmologist, and the two work closely in eye care.
What qualifications do you need to be an optometrist?
Most optometrists hold a bachelor or diploma in optometry, with registration where the state requires it. Contact lens training is an advantage. Employers look for accurate refraction and eye examination skills, careful disease screening, the judgement to refer suspected disease, and the ability to counsel patients on lenses and eye care.