Eye Health Career
Optometry
Optometrists are primary eye care providers who examine, diagnose, and manage conditions affecting vision and eye health.
Optometry is one of the most accessible and rewarding pathways into eye health care. Optometrists work on the front line of vision care — testing eyesight, prescribing corrective lenses, detecting diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration, and referring patients to specialists when needed. For First Nations communities, optometrists play a critical role in reducing preventable blindness.
What Optometrists Do
Optometrists provide comprehensive eye examinations and manage a wide range of vision and eye health conditions.
- Conduct comprehensive eye examinations
- Prescribe glasses, contact lenses, and low vision aids
- Detect and manage eye diseases such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy
- Refer patients to ophthalmologists and other specialists
- Provide pre- and post-operative care for eye surgery patients
- Conduct community outreach and screening programs
Where They Work
- Private optometry practices and optical retail chains
- Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs)
- Remote and rural outreach programs
- Hospitals and community health centres
- Universities and research institutions
Skills & Qualities
Education Pathway
Becoming a registered optometrist in Australia requires completing an accredited university degree.
Complete Year 12 with strong science results
Bachelor of Vision Science / Master of Optometry (5 years total)
Complete supervised clinical placements
Register with Optometry Board of Australia (Ahpra)
Some universities offer combined degrees. Scholarships and rural incentives are available for First Nations students.
Career Roles
Career Outlook
- Strong demand across Australia, especially in regional and remote areas
- Growing need for culturally safe eye care in First Nations communities
- Competitive salaries with rural and remote loading
- Opportunities for private practice ownership
- Expanding scope of practice including therapeutic prescribing
Is This Career for You?
Optometry suits people who want to make a real difference in their community's health and wellbeing.
- You enjoy science and problem-solving
- You want to work directly with patients and community
- You're committed to reducing preventable blindness in mob
- You're prepared for a five-year university commitment
WISE can connect you with First Nations optometry students and mentors who've walked this path.
Explore Training PathwaysDownload the Infographic
Save this workforce pathways infographic as a PDF to share or reference offline.
Optometrist Workforce Pathways Infographic (PDF)