Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners

How to become an Ophthalmologist

Official title: Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric

Also called: Clinical Ophthalmologist, Cornea Specialist, Glaucoma Specialist, Oculoplastic Specialist, Ophthalmic Surgeon, Ophthalmologist, Ophthalmologist Specialist, Physician, Retina Specialist, Surgical Ophthalmologist

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.

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Physicians and surgeons typically need a bachelor's degree as well as a medical degree, which takes an additional 4 years to complete. Depending on their specialty, they also need 3 to 9 years in internship and residency programs. Subspecialization includes additional training in a fellowship of 1 to 3 years.

Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 23 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 48 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $300,080 a year The middle half earn $173,650 to $421,530.
About 9,700 people work in this job now, and about 10,200 are projected by 2035. (+4.5%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Ophthalmologist?

How much does an Ophthalmologist earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $300,080 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $173,650 to $421,530.

Is an Ophthalmologist a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 9,700 to about 10,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Ophthalmologist?

Usually. 100% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Ophthalmologist?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.