White collared job is what we all desire and asked to do. But, why shouldn’t we? After all, these jobs come up with respect and power. That is why most of the parents want their children to become engineers and doctors. But what kind of look do you get when you tell someone that you are an optometrist? Confused one, right?
This is the case with most of the people today. That confused face simply reflects their disagreement on optometrists being equal to doctors. Howbeit, people, who know about optometry, know how challenging and opportunistic the life of an optometrist can be and how that is equal to a doctor’s stature.
Let’s know why the profession of an optometrist is no less than of a doctor on the basis of these 4 grounds.
Educational Grounds
Being a doctor is difficult as it demands thorough and extensive studying schedule, but that is applicable for becoming an optometrist as well. Where while doing dental studies or M.B.B.S., you need to go through a lot of practical as well as theoretical work. In optometry as well, there is extensive practical and theoretical work involved.
For mostly every part of the body, there is a professional and one of them is the study of optometry. An optometrist needs to be clear with the concepts related to Ocular Anatomy, Pharmacology, Ocular Physiology, Optometry Instruments, etc. to be able to see the patients and provide the best help. And, you know what? Doctors are supposed to do the same! So, how are they different again?
Entertaining all the Details
What if your doctor asks you to get a fracture on your arm for the scratch you got on your foot? You’ll look at his face confused, right? You’ll stop taking him as a doctor on the back of your mind, right? However, no doctor wants that and thus, they need to be careful for each and every detail of the problem. They can’t prescribe a medicine of cold for the problem of joint pain.
Same is the case for optometrists. They need to go through each and every detail of the problem before suggesting you anything. Eye is a complex and sensitive part of human body and needs extensive care to avoid massive problems. Thus, optometrists need to make sure if they are able to identify the problem or not. They also can not suggest solutions for Cataracts, while the problem is related to Conjunctivitis or Optic nerves.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills
Making a good bond with the patients is necessary for any doctor. Patients feel nervous in hospitals or clinics; thus, it is really important to make them trust you and feel optimistic.
In optometry, people come with problems related to eyes and that is one of the most sensitive parts of the human body. Thus, they feel scared with the very idea of going to a clinic and see an optometrist. Here comes the role of interpersonal skills to play.
Be it a dentist or an optometrist, it is really important to consider patient’s feelings and make them feel good by using communication and interpersonal skills. Also, communicating patients about the pre and post effects of a treatment or telling them about the effective measures to be taken care of are some of the responsibilities that every doctor or say, a doctor or an optometrist needs to take care of.
Job Prospects
Just like doctors related to any field, optometrists also get the opportunity to work in hospitals after their training period. Optometrists need to work in emergency hours as well just like any other doctor. Along with that, optometrists can also open their own clinics like other doctors.
So, did you see any difference between both till now? No, right! Because there ain’t any!
Now, next time when someone says an optometrist is just about checking the eye and providing power for the spectacle lenses, you know what to say, right? There is no way an optometrist is not a doctor. An optometrist studies and works as hard as any other doctor does. So, choose an optometrist course and get enrolled now ‘cause this is no less than any other field of medicine.
