Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric: Career Profile
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.
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What Tasks Do Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric Do?
The core tasks performed by ophthalmologists, except pediatric include:
- 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.
- Provide or direct the provision of postoperative care.
- Develop or implement plans and procedures for ophthalmologic services.
- 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 ophthalmic surgeries such as cataract, glaucoma, refractive, corneal, vitro-retinal, eye muscle, or oculoplastic surgeries.
- Educate patients about maintenance and promotion of healthy vision.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful ophthalmologists, except pediatric combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Clinical Ophthalmologist
- Cornea Specialist
- Cornea and External Disease Physician
- Glaucoma Specialist
- Medical Doctor (MD)
- Neuro-Ophthalmologist
- Oculoplastic Specialist
- Ophthalmic Surgeon
How Many Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric Are There?
There are roughly 2,543,971 ophthalmologists, except pediatric working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +5.2% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $90,102 |
| Hourly median | $43.32 |
| 10th percentile | $56,375 |
| 25th percentile | $73,239 |
| 75th percentile | $106,966 |
| 90th percentile | $123,830 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $218,770 |
| Maryland | $218,490 |
| Wisconsin | $214,690 |
| Louisiana | $212,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $208,060 |
| Oklahoma | $208,000 |
| South Carolina | $206,450 |
| Vermont | $205,130 |
| Alabama | $181,490 |
| South Dakota | $174,160 |
| Utah | $168,530 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for ophthalmologists, except pediatric vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $53,220 | 2.2% | 0.53 |
| Great Lakes | $42,633 | 16.0% | 0.94 |
| Middle Atlantic | $41,098 | 18.4% | 1.11 |
| Southeast | $14,746 | 20.7% | 1.41 |
| Plains States | $10,662 | 5.6% | 1.01 |
| New England | $10,256 | 9.1% | 1.97 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | NY | $224,340 | 90 |
| Columbus, OH | OH | $222,280 | |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $218,490 | 230 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $215,060 | 100 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | WI | $214,690 | 110 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $213,490 | |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $211,550 | |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | MO | $210,990 |
Industry Breakdown
Most ophthalmologists, except pediatric are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 11,800 | n/a |
| Retail Trade | 150 | n/a |
| Educational Services | 120 | $80,000 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Medical software: eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Medical software: Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for ophthalmologists, except pediatric tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Frequency of Decision Making
How to Become Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Chiropractors (Supplemental)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (Supplemental)
- Optometrists (Primary-Short)
- Podiatrists (Supplemental)
- Nurse Practitioners (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologists (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Primary-Short)
- Dermatologists (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Aspiring ophthalmologists, except pediatric commonly pursue programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 1 majors
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1241.00 (Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric).