Economic uncertainty over the past several years has led many
people to explore new opportunities for long-term employment. Healthcare
represents one of the largest and most appealing industries for people
who enjoy improving the quality of life for patients and who can handle
the frustrations that sometimes come with direct patient care. The fact
that there are so many different avenues that can be taken in healthcare
often creates confusion for those who are trying to find the path that
is most appropriate for their needs. One field that is commonly
overlooked is that of the eye care industry which includes both medical
and retail departments. Individuals who are looking for lots of room for
career advancement and a relatively laid back work environment are
encouraged to consider the many options available in the vision
specialty.
Most eye care establishments have both medical and
retail departments that complement each other. Personnel who work on the
medical side of the business include assistants, technicians,
optometrists, and ophthalmologists. These occupations represent
progressively higher levels of education and training as well as
compensation. Individuals who are uncertain which profession is most
suitable for them are well-advised to begin their career as an assistant
or technician and then decide on whether or not they want to pursue one
of the more advanced fields after they have gained some experience.
While the assistant and technician opportunities require relatively
little education and training, the optometry and ophthalmology fields
require a minimum of eight years of college and may include long
postgraduate training programs.
