Guest coloumn

Times Ascent :Optometry being a health care profession has been among the few sectors that did not get affected much by the recent slowdown.

Nilesh D Thite, Professional Services Manager with Bausch & Lomb Eye care (I) Pvt. Ltd discusses careers in the Optometry industry in India

1. Did the recent recession have an impact on the optometry sector in terms of hiring?
Optometry being a health care profession has been among the few sectors that did not get affected much by the recent slowdown. Eye care is an important health need of the people. Hence, the impact of recession has been limited to high end spectacle frames and fashion accessories.  Most of the top optometry colleges have a 100 per cent placement record as of today. 
 
2. What kind of career opportunities exist in this sector? What are the various job profiles?
Most of the fresh graduates initially work as employees of optometrists in private practice or with large optical chains or in public clinics. Occasionally, they may work with ophthalmologists. Most optometrists are self-employed or work for other optometrists in private practice. Sometimes, their work may involve visiting the homes of bed-ridden or house-bound patients, acting as a consultant to firms or factories at their premises or working at health care institutions such as hospitals, community health centers or special clinics.
Thus, a qualified optometrist can independently choose from options such as private practice (spectacle and contact lens clinics), working with eye hospitals, spectacle or contact lens manufacturing units, spectacle, instruments or contact lens industry, working overseas, working at teaching institutes or as research scientists.

3. What is the level of pay one can expect as an optometrist?
 
The remuneration of a fresh graduate in optometry depends on his/her own abilities, interest and also the choice of field. By and large, the profession offers satisfactory pay, which is at par with other professional courses.

4. What is the educational qualification and skills required for practicing Optometry or working as an Optometrist in India?
Optometry courses are based on Sciences, including Biology, Physics and Chemistry. Therefore, a thorough background in these subjects is essential for students entering the course. All the leading institutes in Optometry offer a Bachelor degree course in Optometry. As for skills, perhaps the most important personal quality an optometrist should have is a liking for people of all ages and a genuine desire to help the patients. Optometrists also need a willingness to continue learning, not only clinical knowledge which helps in caring for the patients, but also practice management where business acumen can be an asset.

5. What do you foresee for the future of Optometry in India? Which particular segments of this industry are likely to grow most?
Optometry today, although an unlicensed profession, in future will be a licensed and regulated profession in India.  With a population of over one billion, there is no dearth of growth here. Every single human being above the age of 40 will require ocular care in one way or the other, and considering that we are today the youngest nation in the world, we will also have the largest number of people above the age of 40 years in the world in the near future. Hence the industry looks quite promising.

Courtesy ; to read the full interview log on to www.timesascent.in/interviews

Guest Coloumn:

27/01/2010

Today I like to present the conversation that I had with one of our senior colleague who did his Ophthalmic Assistant course at Madurai Medical College, Madurai and now a Marketing Professional in class.

K. Srinivasan (44 Years )is a person par excellence. He is at present residing in Bangalore. From a mediocre background to a very successful professional he had traveled a long journey. He is hard working, intelligent (both in his school/College Days), a very good artist, enjoys reading, watches only sensible movies along with his family. I have known him close to 25 years as a friend, class mate and as a family friend. A Graduate from University of Madras and holds PG Degree in Marketing Management from University of Mysore apart from Diploma Pharmacy and Diploma in Ophthalmic Assistant from MMC, Madurai.

Veerasamy: Good Afternoon! Srinivasan. It is very nice talking to you. Pl tell me about your career journey from an Ophthalmic Assistant to a Marketing Professional.

Srinivasan: A Very Good Afternoon. It is been almost 21 years since I have entered into Marketing Field and all I can say is that my career is successful. After my course I joined Aravind Research Foundation, Madurai as Basic Eye Health Worker and worked there about a year. In Feb 1989 I have joined M/S. Crosland’s Research Lab Ltd as a Professional Service Representative based in Hubli , Karnataka. I have had vast experience in working in various reputed Pharmaceutical houses in India in different managerial position in Karnataka region. In 2004 I joined M/s. Infosys BPO Ltd in BANGALORE. After 2 years working there I moved to Institute Of Clinical Research (India) as a Regional Manager (South) based in Bangalore. Due to better managerial exposure I then moved to M/S. Bilcare Research Academy- a Pune Based Clinical Trial Management Services company which launched its Clinical Research Training Program in Bangalore in 2008 as a Marketing Manager looking after South India.
After working there till April 2009, I then moved to Au-Kbc Research Centre in MIT Campus, Chrompet, Chennai as a Clinical Trial Management Program Promotion Officer and at present I am with this Centre which is providing Clinical Trial Management Training to the Professionals. My job is to market this Training Program by organizing various promo activities including giving a guest speech at various Universities, colleges and institutions in order to promote clinical Research Education offered by the Centre at Anna University Chennai.

Veerasamy: Nice to know about your experience. Please tell me have ever repented for not joining the Govt.Service as an Ophthalmic Assistant and what is your opinion about forming a Council for the Vision Care Professionals of India.

Srinivasan: Not at all. It gives me immense pleasure that I have gone into a Private Sector where I have had enough learning experience and I am very happy the way my career progressed as of now.
It is very sad to know that you people have no common banner to get organized. You have the strength and purpose to form the council. Get organized first then move to the next level of excellence. Vision Council of India is a good idea. By 2011 you must realize this goal.

Veerasamy: Thank You!

Srinivasan: It’s my pleasure talking to you. Wish you guys all the very best in 2010.