Skip navigation

Ophthalmologists

What they do:
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries of the eyes and related structures.
On the job, you would:
  • Perform ophthalmic surgeries such as cataract, glaucoma, refractive, corneal, vitro-retinal, eye muscle, and oculoplastic surgeries.
  • 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.

Knowledge

Health
  • medicine and dentistry
  • therapy and counseling
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Math and Science
  • biology
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Education and Training
  • teaching and course design

Skills

Basic Skills
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Social
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions
  • understanding people's reactions

Abilities

Verbal
  • listen and understand what people say
  • communicate by speaking
Ideas and Logic
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • notice when problems happen
Hand and Finger Use
  • put together small parts with your fingers
  • keep your arm or hand steady
Visual Understanding
  • see hidden patterns

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Integrity
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Concern for Others
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Stress Tolerance

Technology

Examples of the technology used in this career will be available soon.

Education

Education: (rated 5 of 5)
doctoral/professional degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Find Certifications

Job Outlook

Bright Outlook
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Check out my state Find Jobs

Explore More

You might like a career in one of these industries:
See more details at O*NET OnLine about ophthalmologists.