Optometrists

NOC

31111

examine eyes to assess and diagnose diseases and disorders. They prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses and recommend treatments such as exercises to correct vision or eye disorders.

Compare

View Snapshot

Full NOC Description

Optometrists examine eyes to assess and diagnose ocular diseases and disorders. They prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses and recommend treatments such as exercises to correct vision problems or ocular disorders. They work in private practice, hospitals, clinics, community health centres, rehabilitation centres, the optical industry, government and universities.

Main Duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Examine patients' eyes, conduct tests and use ophthalmoscopes, biomicroscopes and other specialized instruments to determine ocular health and visual efficiency

Prescribe and provide treatment (excluding surgery) to maintain, improve and correct vision and manage other ocular diseases and disorders

Prescribe, dispense and fit eyeglasses, contact lenses and other visual aids

Educate, counsel and advise patients on contact lens use and care, ocular hygiene, surgical and non-surgical options, and preventive care and maintenance related to occupation and lifestyle

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

Collaborate with ophthalmologists and other healthcare professionals to provide pre- and post-operative care for patients undergoing eye surgeries such as laser vision correction

May prescribe from a limited list of medications

Conduct research and promote advancement in the visual sciences.

Optometrists may specialize in fitting visual aids for people who are partially blind, fitting contact lenses or correcting special vision problems.

Also Known As

doctor of optometry (OD)
optometrist

Requirements

Employment Requirements

Three years of university undergraduate studies or, in Quebec, completion of a college program in sciences and a four- to five-year university program in optometry are required.

Licensing by the provincial or territorial regulatory governing body is required.

Provincial Regulation

Provincially Regulated: Yes

Regulation Body

New Brunswick Association of Optometrists (NBAO)

Employment by Sex

The following graph shows the percentage of men and women working in this occupation in New Brunswick.

Data legend

47.4%

Female

52.6%

Male

Employment by age

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by age group.

Data legend

0.0%

15-24

0.0%

25-34

0.0%

35-44

0.0%

45-54

0.0%

55-64

0.0%

65+

Employment by highest level of education

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by highest level of education achieved.

Data legend

0.0%

No Certificate, Diploma or Degree

0.0%

High School, Diploma or Equivalent

0.0%

Apprenticeship or Trades Certificate or Diploma

0.0%

College or University Below Bachelor Level

100.0%

University - Bachelor Level or Above

Employment by Industry

The following graph shows the industry groups in which the largest shares of persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick are employed. Small percentages for all top three industry groups may suggest employment for this occupation is widely distributed amongst many industry groups.

Data legend

100.0%

Health care and social assistance

N/A

All Other Industries

Employment by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons employed in this occupation in New Brunswick by which economic region they reside in.

Data legend

15.80%

Northeast

26.30%

Southeast

10.50%

Southwest

15.80%

Central

31.60%

Northwest

Economic Regions

The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

Annual Average Salary by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the average salary of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

No Data Available

Data legend

No Data Available

Economic Regions

Hourly Median Wages by Economic Regions

The following represents the median hourly wage of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

No Data Available

Salary

The following shows the average salary of everyone who worked full-time and year-round in this occupation across each of the Atlantic Provinces and nationally.

Employment Outlook

The following represents the number of job openings that are expected to occur in this occupation over the next three and ten years respectively, broken down by openings expected to result from growth (“new jobs”) and openings expected to result from attrition (death and retirements).

Occupational Profiles

Optometrists

On This Page

3-Year Outlook

3-Year Job Openings

Median Hourly Wage

Average Salary

Typically Required

Employed

Full NOC Description

Main Duties

Also Known As

Employment Requirements

Provincial Regulation

Regulation Body

Data legend

Data legend

Data legend

Data legend

Data legend

Data legend

New Brunswick

Newfoundland

Prince Edward Island

Nova Scotia

Canada

Three Year Outlook

Total Openings: 3-Year

New Jobs: 3-Year

Retirements/Deaths: 3-Year

Ten Year Outlook

Total Openings: 10-Year

New Jobs: 10-Year

Retirements/Deaths: 10-Year