Optometrist / Doctor of Optometry (OD)

Examine patients’ eyes, conduct tests and use ophthalmoscopes, biomicroscopes and other specialized instruments to determine ocular health and visual efficiency. They prescribe and provide treatment (excluding surgery) to maintain, improve and correct vision and manage other ocular diseases and disorders. They also prescribe, dispense and fit eyeglasses, contact lenses and other visual aids. After assessing the patient sometimes they refer patients to ophthalmologists or other physicians and surgeons for treatment of ocular diseases or conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration and systemic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Optometrists can prescribe from a limited list of medications.

Learn more

Average Hourly

$46.11

Range Hourly

$22.85 – $53.90

Average Yearly

$86,115

Range Yearly

$64,000 – $151,000

NOC Code

Optometrists (3121)

Alias Job Titles

Doctor of Optometry (OD)

Qualifications Required

Bachelor and an accredited, professional, 4-year Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree

Salary Range

Average hourly	Range hourly	Average yearly	Range yearly
$46.11	$22.85 – $53.90	$86,115	$64,000 - $151,000

Job Demand

High

Employment outlook is mostly good across provinces. More information is available here.

Growth Opportunity

Optometrist can go to research, teaching at the universities, and sub-specialty area such as pediatric or geriatric eye care, specialty contact lens, ocular disease or neuro-optometry.

Years' Experience Required

4-5 years

Training Options (if available)

An accredited, professional, 4-year Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree only available in University of Waterloo and Université de Montréal in Canada.

Personal Qualities

Passionate to help others, the ability to study and interpret health problems, the ability to focus on details, diligence, a good sense of spatial relationships, good fine motor skills (to manipulate small objects and instruments), people’s person, excellent communication skills, accuracy, comfortable in operating various instruments

Notes/Other Information

In Québec two years of CEGEP is accepted at the undergraduate level.

An increasing number of optometrists choose to do an additional year of residency training upon completion of their Doctor of Optometry degree

Optometrist work in both rural and urban areas. Often they are self-employed and work in offices. Some also work in eyeglasses/contact lens shops. Evenings and weekends work are on choice.

Steps towards capacity building to become competitive for this job

Pathway 1: Getting enrolled into an optometry program. After completion certification is required by Optometry Examining Board of Canada and need to satisfy provincial board requirements in the province or territory for practice.

Pathway 2 (More favorable to the IMG Ophthalmologists):

Take part in the Internationally Graduated Optometrist Evaluating Examination (IGOEE)
With the evaluation apply to the International Optometric Bridging Program at the University of Waterloo (Transitioning to Advanced Standing Program from 2021)
If approved, one can start from 3^rd year of the OD program and upon successful completion one can become Doctor of Optometry in 2 years.
Then, after passing the licensure/registration and should be good to start practice.

To learn more about this path check the following links:

Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, Link 5

References

i. Alberta Learning Information Service

ii. Job Bank Canada

iii. National Occupation Classification ESDC

iv. Neuvoo

v. Indeed