The document summarizes and compares careers in optometry and as a physician assistant. Optometry involves examining eyes and treating visual disorders, while physician assistants practice medicine under physician supervision. Both careers require similar skills like communication, problem solving, and compassion. Optometry schooling takes 4 years and leads to an O.D. degree, while physician assistant programs take 26 months and result in certification. Both fields have growing job prospects but physician assistant has a higher projected growth rate and slightly lower average salary.

1. Career PowerPoint:
Optometry and Physician Assistant Professions
Kaitlyn Greiner

2. Introduction
 A career in optometry
involves the examination of
the eyes and other parts of
the visual system. Visual
problems and diseases are
diagnosed and treated.
 I am drawn to this career
because I want to become
an expert in a specialized
area.
 A career as a physician
assistant involves practicing
medicine under the
supervision of a physician.
Physician assistants
examine, diagnose, and treat
patients.
 I am drawn to this career
because there are so many
areas of medicine in which to
practice to choose from.

3. History of Optometry
 1783-first US shop for optometric services in Philadelphia
 1784-split bifocal lens invented
 1801-astigmatism discovered
 1851-interior of living eye first seen
 1872-optometry programs begin
 1910-first university courses in optometry
 1923-first Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree awarded
 1965-Medicare and Medicaid discriminate against optometrists
 1973-bill introduced to allow prescription of drugs
 1998-1st law authorizing use of lasers

4. History of Physician Assistant
 1650-German military medical assistants used
 1891-first medic instruction
 1930-doctor trains medic in urology and medic becomes his
assistant
 mid 1960’s-shortage of primary care physicians
 1965-1st class of PA’s (mostly military medics)
 Early 1970’s-federal acceptance
 2007-141 accredited programs in US
 2015-190 accredited programs in US

5. Graduate Programs
 Optometry School:
 Doctor of Optometry Degree (O.D.)
 4 year program
 17 accredited programs in US
 Take Optometry Admission Test
(OAT)
 Option: 1 year residency-advanced
training in particular area of
interest
 Two programs offer in state tuition
to SC residents (about
$20,000/year):
 Southern College of
Optometry-Memphis, TN
 UAB School of Optometry-
Birmingham, AL
 Physician Assistant School:
 Certified PA: PA-C
 26 month program
 190 accredited programs in US
 Take GRE to get in
 Take PANCE to get certified
 2000 hours of clinical rotations in
program
 Only Program in SC (about
$16,000/year):
 MUSC PA Program-
Charleston, SC

6. Duties
 Optometrist:
 Vision tests, analyzes results
 Diagnose sight problems
 Prescribe glasses, contacts,
medications
 Pre and post-op care
 Evaluate for disease
presence
 Eye health counseling
 Physician Assistant:
 Medical history
 Physical exams
 Diagnose/treat illnesses
 Order and interpret tests
 Treatment plan
 Prevention counseling
 Assist surgeries
 Write prescriptions
 Rounds in hospitals

7. Workplace Settings
 Optometry:
 Individual private practice
 Partnership/group practice
 Retail setting
 Ophthalmologic Professional
setting
 Academic-teaching
 Corporate/Commercial
 Physician Assistant:
 Hospitals
 Doctors offices
 Community health center
 Nursing homes
 Schools/universities
 Correctional institutions

8. Specialties
 Optometrist:
 Family Practice
 Primary Eye Care
 Cornea and Contact Lenses
 Geriatric Optometry
 Pediatric Optometry
 Vision Therapy and Rehab.
 Low Vision Rehab.
 Ocular disease
 Refractive and Ocular Surgery
 Community Health
 Brain Injury Rehab.
 My interests:
 Vision Therapy
 Pediatric
 Physician Assistant:
 Family medicine
 Internal medicine
 Emergency
 Pediatrics
 OB-GYN
 Surgery
 Orthopedics
 Behavioral medicine
 Dermatology
 Neurology
 Gastroenterology
 My interests:
 Dermatology
 Neonatal

9. Growth Potential &
Salary Range
 Optometry:
 Job Outlook for 2012-2022:
24%-much faster than avg.
 Prospects:
 Many expected to retire in
next decade
 Limited number of schools
so promising future if
licensed
 Median Salary: $97,820/yr
 Physician Assistant:
 Job Outlook for 2012-2022:
38%-much faster than avg.
 Prospects:
 good for
rural/underserved areas
 primary care
 Median Salary: $90,930/yr

10. O*Net Results and Skills
 O*Net Results:
 1) Investigative: A thinker who is intelligent, logical, and curious,
they ask why and seek challenges
 2) Social: A helper who motivates and empowers others
 3) Enterprising: These are leaders who persuade, are
competitive, take risks, and are organizers
 Examples of My Skills
 1) Investigative: My studies come first and I am in the Calhoun
Honors College.
 2) Social: I am an undergraduate TA for Anatomy and
Physiology lab and help students learn course material.
 3) Enterprising: I am the Allied Health Chair of AED and also
play tennis.

11. Skills Required for Both
Professions:
 Communication Skills
 Compassion
 Detail Oriented
 Problem Solving Skills
 Decision-Making Skills
 Interpersonal Skills
 Emotional Stability

12. Candidate Qualities for
Required Skills
 My investigative qualities fulfill the need of:
 Detail orientation
 Problem Solving skills
 My social qualities fulfill the need of:
 Communication skills
 Interpersonal skills
 Emotional stability
 Compassion
 My enterprising qualities fulfill the need of:
 Decision making skills

13. Relevant Academics
 Optometry:
 Classes:
 Biology
 Chemistry (Organic)
 Anatomy and Physiology
 Microbiology
 Calculus
 Physics
 Biochemistry
 Business Class
(recommended)
 Physician Assistant:
 Classes:
 Biology
 Chemistry (Organic)
 Anatomy and Physiology
 Microbiology
 Hands-on Patient Care:
 Medical Assistant
 CNA

14. Conclusion
 Optometry:
 Career has been around for
a while but has fairly recently
gained more power
 Few schools compared with
physician assistant schools
 Provides primary health care
for eyes
 Variety of specialties
available with residency
 Job outlook lower than PA
but salary is higher
 Physician Assistant:
 Idea for career has existed a
long time but the actual
career is very new
 Takes half the time of
optometry or medical school
but requires many hours of
experience for admission
 Practice medicine under
supervision of physician
 Can work in any area of
medicine
 Huge growth potential in
future

15. References
 Optometry History Timelines (2014). American OptometricAssociation. Retrieved fromhttp://fs.aoa.org/optometry-archives/optometry-timeline.html
 History of the PA Profession (2015). American Academy ofPhysician Assistants. Retrieved fromhttps://www.aapa.org/threeColumnLanding.aspx?id=429
 History of the Profession (2015). Yale School of Medicine.Retrievedfromhttp://medicine.yale.edu/pa/profession/history_profession.aspx
 Physician Assistant profession (2015). Medline Plus. Retrievedfromhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001935.htm
 Historic Precedents (2013). Physician Assistant HistorySocietty. Retrieved from http://www.pahx.org/period01.html
 Optometrists. (2014). Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved fromhttp://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/optometrists.htm#tab-4
 Accredited PA Programs. (2015). ARC-PA. Retrieved fromhttp://www.arc-pa.org/acc_programs/
 Optometry: A Career Guide. (2013). ASCO. Retrieved fromhttp://www.opted.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/EyesHaveIt_CareerGuide.pdf
 What is a PA? (2015). American Optometric Association.Retrieved fromhttps://www.aapa.org/landingquestion.aspx?id=290
 About the Physician Assistant Profession. (2011). PaceUniversity Physician Assistant Studies. Retrieved fromhttp://www.pace.edu/physician-assistant/frequently-asked-questions