With the growing awareness about eyecare in the country, the need for quality optometrists is on the rise. Prachi Rege speaks to experts about the courses, skills and career scope in the industry
In India, more than 450 million people need vision correction. The annual loss in productivity and economic burden due to avoidable vision impairment in India is over USD 23 billion. "On one hand we have problems related to visual acuity disorders and on the other, there is a lack of good optometrists. A good number of trained optometrists is the need of the hour," says Samir Pachpute, director, ITM Institute of Health Sciences.
Optometrists are primary healthcare physicians of the eye and vision system. They are the ones who detect eye diseases and defects like refractive error, latent squint and blindness through diagnosis, referral and co-management. As a primary eye care practitioner, an optometrist has a vital role in detecting potentially serious eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma and age-related maculopathy, and general health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. "Presently the doctor-patient ratio in our country is 10,000 doctors for 2 lakh patients. There is certainly a need to bridge the void soon," informs Hiral Korani, consultant optometrist and senior faculty, Lotus Optometry College.
To become a trained optometrist, one can pursue a four-year bachelors degree in optometry. This can be followed with a two-year masters programme (see below). A masters can be followed up with a fellowship programme or an MPhil. Short-term courses like a diploma in ophthalmological techniques, certificate course in optical dispensing techniques and a vision technician programme are also available.
Optometrists usually practice privately. However, with changing times the scope to deliver eye-care services has expanded to optometry departments at hospitals, community clinics and leading optician companies. Sports vision therapy is the latest addition to the job profiles available to aspirants. In this therapy, an optometrist trains a sportsperson's vision for the sport he/ she plays. If none of the above interests you, there is always the option to teach. "With increase in the number of educational institutes offering courses in optometry, quality professors are in great demand," says Korani, who is also the Mumbai representative of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO).
When it comes to competency on the job, an optometrist needs to have good communication skills, professional conduct, patient examination and management and optical dispensing and documentation. "Optometry is a recession proof career. If you are good at your work, you will be never out of practice," says Korani. On an average, a fresher in the industry earns between Rs 20,000 to 25,000 per month. Experts suggest that aspirants of the industry need to keep abreast with the changes and trends in the eyecare space, which keep upgrading every six months.
An Optometrist has the ability to:
• Interpret spectacle prescriptions
• Take frame and facial measurements
• Recommend the appropriate lens, frame material and design based on user's needs and prescription
• Verify, modify and adjust spectacles
• Advice patients on appropriate use of optical devices
COURSE CALL
Lotus College Of Optometry, Mumbai
SRM University, Chennai
SNDT University, Mumbai
Dr DY Patil Institute of Optometry & Visual Sciences, Pune
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