Surgeons: How much money do u earn each year? And how do u feel when you have a life in your hands?

Hi Johana,

Eye surgeon job description

Eye surgeon examines patients to identify their eye problems. They determine if the patient has cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration and prescribe some medications or corrective lenses. They also perform pre- and post-surgery examinations.

Eye surgeons are licensed to operate on the patient’s eyes. Surgeries are often needed to transplant a cornea, remove cataracts, or resolve nearsightedness, among others. It is also their job to remove growths or tumors on the ocular nerve.

As eye surgeons, they have to develop a treatment plan for the patients. This may include vision therapy or rehabilitation exercises. Ophthalmologists also need to work with other specialists at this point, including neurologists, chemotherapists, or endocrinologists. It also works the other way, wherein their specialty is required by other specialists.

There are two types of eye doctors in the United States, optometrists and ophthalmologists. Optometrists test for and diagnose vision problems, prescribe eyewear and medications and provide eye therapy and rehabilitation treatments. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in performing eye surgery, treating and diagnosing eye injuries and diseases and prescribing eyewear. The income of an eye doctor depends on the type of doctor one is, among other factors like work experience and employer.

Both optometrists and ophthalmologists need to earn accredited doctoral degrees and meet licensure requirements. However, program coursework and licensure exam contents differ for these professionals.

PayScale.com reported in May 2014 that ophthalmologists earned a median wage of $191,220, with most making between $101,810 and $351,207 a year. While entry-level professionals earned a median wage of $154,000, mid-career ophthalmologists earned a median wage of $210,000. The most experienced earned a median salary of $235,000.

How to become an eye surgeon

To become an eye surgeon, one needs to have a medical degree. Aspiring eye surgeons should earn a bachelor’s degree first to get into a medical school. They have to complete a four-year medical program and sign up for three to eight years of internships and residencies. Typical undergraduate programs include biology, chemistry, and pre-med. Common courses that the students need to gear up for an ophthalmology program include physiology, biochemistry, physics, anatomy, organic chemistry, and medical ethics.

Eye surgeons also need to get a passing score in the licensing exam, like any other doctors. However, the specifics of the licensure requirements vary among the states.

To be a good eye surgeon, one needs excellent math and physics skills, as well as in-depth medical knowledge. For those who want to run their own clinic, they need great administrative and management skills, too.

http://study.com/articles/Income_of_an_Eye_Doctor_What_Do_Eye_Doctors_Earn.html
http://www.healthcare-salaries.com/physicians/eye-surgeon-salary

Good Luck in your choices!