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Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric

Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and help prevent disorders and diseases of the eye. May also provide vision services for treatment including glasses and contacts.
  • Summary

  • Details

  • Work Activities

    • Perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.
    • Diagnose or treat injuries, disorders, or diseases of the eye and eye structures including the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva, or eyelids.
    • Perform ophthalmic surgeries such as cataract, glaucoma, refractive, corneal, vitro-retinal, eye muscle, or oculoplastic surgeries.
    • Provide ophthalmic consultation to other medical professionals.
    • Conduct clinical or laboratory-based research in ophthalmology.
    • Diagnose or treat injuries, disorders, or diseases of the eye and eye structures including the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva, or eyelids.
    • Perform, order, or interpret the results of diagnostic or clinical tests.
    • Prescribe or administer topical or systemic medications to treat ophthalmic conditions and to manage pain.
    • Develop treatment plans based on patients' histories and goals, the nature and severity of disorders, and treatment risks and benefits.
    • Perform, order, or interpret the results of diagnostic or clinical tests.
    • Provide or direct the provision of postoperative care.
    • Prescribe corrective lenses such as glasses or contact lenses.
    • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of health professionals to provide optimal patient care.
    • Refer patients for more specialized treatments when conditions exceed the experience, expertise, or scope of practice of practitioner.
    • Educate patients about maintenance and promotion of healthy vision.
    • Document or evaluate patients' medical histories.
    • Perform laser surgeries to alter, remove, reshape, or replace ocular tissue.
    • Develop or implement plans and procedures for ophthalmologic services.
    • Prescribe ophthalmologic treatments or therapies such as chemotherapy, cryotherapy, or low vision therapy.
    • Prescribe or administer topical or systemic medications to treat ophthalmic conditions and to manage pain.
    • Instruct interns, residents, or others in ophthalmologic procedures and techniques.

    Skills

    • Writing
      • Writing things for co-workers or customers.
    • Operations Analysis
      • Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
    • Technology Design
      • Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
    • Judgment and Decision Making
      • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
    • Systems Analysis
      • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
    • Service Orientation
      • Looking for ways to help people.
    • Reading Comprehension
      • Reading work-related information.
    • Repairing
      • Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
    • Instructing
      • Teaching people how to do something.
    • Management of Financial Resources
      • Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
    • Programming
      • Writing computer programs.
    • Complex Problem Solving
      • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
    • Equipment Maintenance
      • Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
    • Learning Strategies
      • Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
    • Active Listening
      • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
    • Operations Monitoring
      • Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
    • Equipment Selection
      • Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
    • Installation
      • Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
    • Systems Evaluation
      • Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
    • Science
      • Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
    • Negotiation
      • Bringing people together to solve differences.
    • Mathematics
      • Using math to solve problems.
    • Speaking
      • Talking to others.
    • Monitoring
      • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
    • Troubleshooting
      • Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
    • Persuasion
      • Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
    • Quality Control Analysis
      • Testing how well a product or service works.
    • Critical Thinking
      • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
    • Social Perceptiveness
      • Understanding people's reactions.
    • Coordination
      • Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
    • Time Management
      • Managing your time and the time of other people.
    • Active Learning
      • Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
    • Operation and Control
      • Using equipment or systems.
    • Management of Material Resources
      • Managing equipment and materials.
    • Management of Personnel Resources
      • Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.

    Abilities

    • Oral Comprehension
      • Listening and understanding what people say.
    • Sound Localization
      • Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
    • Speech Recognition
      • Recognizing spoken words.
    • Far Vision
      • Seeing details that are far away.
    • Hearing Sensitivity
      • Telling the difference between sounds.
    • Wrist-Finger Speed
      • Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
    • Control Precision
      • Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
    • Static Strength
      • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
    • Rate Control
      • Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
    • Selective Attention
      • Paying attention to something without being distracted.
    • Peripheral Vision
      • Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
    • Speed of Limb Movement
      • Quickly moving your arms and legs.
    • Reaction Time
      • Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
    • Memorization
      • Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
    • Number Facility
      • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
    • Spatial Orientation
      • Knowing where things are around you.
    • Fluency of Ideas
      • Coming up with lots of ideas.
    • Finger Dexterity
      • Putting together small parts with your fingers.
    • Extent Flexibility
      • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
    • Multilimb Coordination
      • Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
    • Explosive Strength
      • Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
    • Time Sharing
      • Doing two or more things at the same time.
    • Written Expression
      • Communicating by writing.
    • Inductive Reasoning
      • Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
    • Auditory Attention
      • Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
    • Glare Sensitivity
      • Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
    • Response Orientation
      • Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
    • Stamina
      • Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
    • Mathematical Reasoning
      • Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
    • Speed of Closure
      • Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
    • Flexibility of Closure
      • Seeing hidden patterns.
    • Oral Expression
      • Communicating by speaking.
    • Written Comprehension
      • Reading and understanding what is written.
    • Originality
      • Creating new and original ideas.
    • Gross Body Equilibrium
      • Keeping your balance or staying upright.
    • Near Vision
      • Seeing details up close.
    • Depth Perception
      • Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
    • Manual Dexterity
      • Holding or moving items with your hands.
    • Dynamic Flexibility
      • Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
    • Dynamic Strength
      • Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
    • Information Ordering
      • Ordering or arranging things.
    • Perceptual Speed
      • Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
    • Speech Clarity
      • Speaking clearly.
    • Deductive Reasoning
      • Using rules to solve problems.
    • Problem Sensitivity
      • Noticing when problems happen.
    • Visual Color Discrimination
      • Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
    • Gross Body Coordination
      • Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
    • Night Vision
      • Seeing at night or under low light.
    • Trunk Strength
      • Using your lower back and stomach.
    • Category Flexibility
      • Grouping things in different ways.
    • Visualization
      • Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
      • Keeping your arm or hand steady.

    Knowledge

    • Communications and Media
      • Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
    • English Language
      • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
    • Philosophy and Theology
      • Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
    • Telecommunications
      • Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
    • Geography
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
    • Therapy and Counseling
      • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
    • Foreign Language
      • Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
    • Personnel and Human Resources
      • Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
    • Design
      • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
    • Food Production
      • Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
    • Mechanical
      • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
    • Mathematics
      • Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
    • Law and Government
      • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
    • Administrative
      • Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
    • Engineering and Technology
      • Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
    • Biology
      • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
    • Public Safety and Security
      • Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
    • Sales and Marketing
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
    • Computers and Electronics
      • Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
    • Administration and Management
      • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
    • History and Archeology
      • Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
    • Transportation
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
    • Physics
      • Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
    • Fine Arts
      • Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
    • Production and Processing
      • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
    • Building and Construction
      • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
    • Customer and Personal Service
      • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
    • Chemistry
      • Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
    • Psychology
      • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
    • Sociology and Anthropology
      • Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
    • Education and Training
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
    • Economics and Accounting
      • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
    • Medicine and Dentistry
      • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

    Education

    Education
    Doctoral or professional degree
    Work Experience
    No work experience
    Training
    Internship/residency

    Pay

    Washington Annual Salary
    239,200+/yr
    Washington Hourly Wage
    115+/hr

    Washington Employment Trends

    Currently Employed
    13,100
    Yearly Projected Openings
    300

    Personality

    Investigative: People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out. They do well at jobs that need:
    • Perseverance
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Self-Control
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Cooperation
    • Intellectual Curiosity

    Tools

    • Corneal topographers
    • Digital cameras
    • Electrosurgical or electrocautery equipment
    • Exophthalmometers
    • Eye charts or vision cards
    • Eye holders
    • Eye occluders
    • Keratometers
    • Keratoscopes
    • Lid plates for ophthalmic surgery
    • Medical acoustic stethoscopes
    • Medical exam penlights or flashlights
    • Medical ultrasound ophthalmic scanners
    • Mercury blood pressure units
    • Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles
    • Multiparameter vital sign units
    • Needles or cystomes for ophthalmic surgery
    • Notebook computers
    • Ophthalmic eye test lenses
    • Ophthalmic lachrymal probes
    • Ophthalmic laser lens
    • Ophthalmic lensometers
    • Ophthalmic needle irrigating or aspirating tips
    • Ophthalmic perimeters
    • Ophthalmic prisms
    • Ophthalmic retinoscopes
    • Ophthalmic slit lamps
    • Ophthalmic speculas
    • Ophthalmic spoons or curettes
    • Ophthalmic surgical knives or blades
    • Ophthalmic tonometers
    • Ophthalmic transilluminators
    • Ophthalmic visual function analyzers
    • Ophthalmodynamometers
    • Ophthalmoscopes or otoscopes or scope sets
    • Personal computers
    • Phoropter units
    • Surgical clamps or clips or forceps
    • Surgical microscopes or loupes or magnifiers
    • Surgical retractors
    • Tablet computers

    Technology

    • Analytical or scientific software
    • Electronic mail software
    • Medical software
    • Spreadsheet software
    • Word processing software