Healthcare · SOC 29-1041
Eye exams demand licensed hands-on skill; AI assists with screening but cannot replace the optometrist's diagnostic judgment.
Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
Timeline: AI retinal screening tools will extend optometry's reach and improve early detection, but the licensed exam, prescription, and patient relationship are irreplaceable through the 2030s.
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$125,510 median pay
Healthcare
Healthcare
$58,410 median pay
$45,980 median pay
Healthcare
AI job-risk card
Optometrists is resilient on AIFear. Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
AIFear.com
Our AI Fear Score for Optometrists is 18/100 (Resilient). Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
18 out of 100, based on an AI-model review of this occupation's O*NET tasks against what current AI can actually do.
Harder to automate: Performing comprehensive eye examinations, Diagnosing ocular diseases such as glaucoma, Prescribing and fitting corrective lenses, Educating patients on eye health and lens care.
Lean into Ocular disease diagnosis, AI-assisted retinal imaging interpretation, Contact lens fitting, Patient education, Teleoptometry for remote screenings. Consider roles such as Ocular disease specialist or Low vision rehabilitation specialist or Optometry practice owner.
Tasks, skills and AI-exposure for this role were reviewed by an AI model against its O*NET task profile (curated roles use published research anchors). Pay and employment, where shown, are U.S. BLS OEWS (May 2024) figures. This is an estimate, not a prediction about any individual's job. Compare all occupations.