Optometrists

22% (Low Risk)

Low Risk (21-40%): Jobs in this level have a limited risk of automation, as they demand a mix of technical and human-centric skills.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

User poll

Sentiment

The following graph is included wherever there is a substantial amount of votes to render meaningful data. These visual representations display user poll results over time, providing a significant indication of sentiment trends.

Wages

Very high paid relative to other professions

In 2023, the median annual wage for 'Optometrists' was $131,860, or $63 per hour

'Optometrists' were paid 174.4% higher than the national median wage, which stood at $48,060

Wages over time

Comments

Bobby Steward (Low) 1 year ago

Optometry is human centric

1 0 Reply

Alex Bay (Highly likely) 2 years ago

Thinks about optometry and what it entails. It is based on machines testing for glaucoma, retinal scans, images, and subjective visual tests based on "clearer" or not. Similar to a radiologist, an optometrist will likely only be able to give a general recommendation, a general prescription for contact lenses or glasses, and if severe, referral to ophthalmologist. A technologist/assistant would be able to accomplish this without the need for an optometrist.

A limited number of veteran optometrists or ophthalmologists can provide oversight and "double check" the AI. I don't see where the future need for more and newer classes of optometrists will be needed, especially as AI and technological advances improve.

0 1 Reply

Ian James Pengilley (Low) 2 years ago

Many cases 'break the mold' on behavioural cooperation/ feedback - it will be very difficult to automate Pediatric optometry - people with low vision, poor understanding or mobility will not give adequate feedback to be properly diagnosed and treated.

0 0 Reply

robotic worrier (Moderate) 2 years ago

Ophthalmologists are safe, but I think the risk for automation of the optometrist specialty is being underestimated here given the advances in AI software which can detect vision defects, signs of injury, ocular diseases, and other problems with general health.

0 1 Reply

Reality Chk. (Highly likely) 5 years ago

There are already provisional patents in existence for glasses/refraction kiosks. Add AI for the exam, a pressure check, and you’ve eliminated about 90 percent of what an optometrist does. Check out GlobeChek. There is a reason they are pushing to do surgery with weekend classes! (No med school required.)

0 1 Reply

Dr. Evil (No chance) 5 years ago

This profession continues to change and adapt to new technologies. The role of optometrists in medical eye care continues to increase as 80% or more of ophthalmologist are needed to perform surgery, leaving only a fraction of general ophthalmologists to address the increasing need of medical eye care. If all optometrist did were refractions for glasses, I do see a potential for SOME automation. But someone is still needed to subjectively determine why someone isn’t seeing clearly which may not be correctable with glasses or basic contact lenses.

0 0 Reply

Kemo (Moderate) 5 years ago

Refraction and diagnosis of diseases are already performed by machines. It may just be a matter of time, until advancement of technology, automation, and laws catching up, before optometry almost disappears.

0 0 Reply

John 5 years ago

Disagree. Virtual reality eye tests using AI and machine learning may remove the need for optometrists.

0 0 Reply

Elle 5 years ago

Totally disagree. Besides specialists, optometrists will be obsolete as online retailers and virtual eye tests will eliminate the gatekeeping of prescriptive glasses and contacts, which are 95% of the reason people go to the optometrist.

0 1 Reply

Dr. Ian 2 years ago

"FREE EYE TEST" is what caused the gatekeeping - I've never seen "Free Architects Plans" with every home purchased, or Civil Engineer consultations... The root of this is that people would rather keep their wallets shut and put up with sub-par vision than pay an Optometrist to really let them see well, under all circumstances, and deal with their headaches, squints and dry eyes.

0 0 Reply

Alwyn 5 years ago

I totally agree with you.

I'm waiting for someone to build a kiosk powered by AI that will perform all the standard tests.

Customers should benefit greatly from this since the markup on prescriptive glasses and contacts is why my optometrists with a supposed median income of 106k drives a Porsche.

0 1 Reply

Ke 3 years ago

It took that optometrist an investment of thousands of dollars of debt to pay for eight years of college making little money while learning their profession.

Not to mention the years it takes to build a practice and pay off their debt while doing so.

How many people are willing to give that many years up to receive a median salary of 106k? If you want to drive a Porsche you could do the same.

1 0 Reply

Lin 5 years ago

https://www.americaninno.com/chicago/inno-news-chicago/fda-recalls-visiblys-eye-vision-test/

0 0 Reply