Optometrist
Examines eyes, diagnoses vision problems and prescribes corrective lenses. Detects eye diseases and refers to ophthalmologists for surgical treatment. A primary eye care provider.
- AI exposure
- 18 of 100, low exposure
- Hiring trend
- Rising
- Hiring rate
- 45%
The role
What the work is, what it pays, and what it costs you.
At a glance
- Remote friendly
- No
- Freelance potential
- High
- Time to senior
- 6 years
A day in the role
Examines a patient's eyes with a slit lamp, performs a refraction test, prescribes glasses, screens for glaucoma, and fits contact lenses for a new patient.
What it pays
Kenyan market, per month- Entry
- KES 50,000-90,000
- Mid
- KES 100,000-200,000
- Senior
- KES 240,000-500,000
Exposure
How much of this a machine can already do, and how that was worked out.
Where this rating sits
1,516 rated careersRated above 10% of the 1,516 careers in the catalogue, which averages 43. Inside health sciences the mean is 25, across 137 careers.
Named task by task
Already automated
- AI-powered retinal image analysis
- Automated refraction testing
- Generating eye examination reports
- AI-assisted glaucoma screening
Still human
- Conducting comprehensive eye examinations
- Diagnosing vision problems and eye diseases
- Prescribing corrective lenses
- Fitting contact lenses
- Detecting conditions like glaucoma and cataracts
- Counselling patients on eye health
Task counts
- Displacing
- AI automates basic refraction testing
- Augmenting
- AI retinal analysis improves disease detection
- Creating
- AI eye screening creates new triage roles
Sources
Behind the rating- Optica Kenya
- Kenya eye health
- WEF Future of Jobs 2023
Getting in
The routes into the role and what each one asks for.
What to study
8 courses- Diploma in Human BiosciencesKsh 34,920a year
- Certificate in Health Services SupportKsh 50,500a year
- Certificate in HIV/AIDS ManagementKsh 63,290a year
- Artisan in Community HealthKsh 67,189a year
- Certificate in Health Records and ITKsh 67,189a year
- Certificate in Science Laboratory TechnicianKsh 67,189a year
- Certificate in Science Laboratory TechnologyKsh 67,189a year
- Craft in School Laboratory TechnicianKsh 67,189a year
How people get in
BSc Optometry
4 yearsVery high cost
BSc Optometry from JKUAT or UoN
Who hires
- Optica
- Bata Optical
- Hospitals
- Eye Clinics
- Self-employed
Common misconceptions
Optometrists just sell glasses
They perform comprehensive eye examinations, diagnose eye diseases, prescribe medications for certain conditions and detect systemic diseases through eye examination.
What happens next
How the role changes from here, and where it leads.
Growth outlook
- Net demand change
- +15%
- Over
- 2026-2028
- Drivers
- Eye care demand,Diabetes-related eye disease,Aging population
- Headwinds
- Limited training capacity,Cost of equipment
What to learn
- AI retinal screening tools
- Tele-optometry platforms
- Advanced diagnostic imaging
Kenyan market notes
Eye care demand is growing — Kenya has high rates of refractive errors, cataracts and glaucoma. Optica and Bata Optical are major employers. Limited optometrists — demand exceeds supply. JKUAT offers optometry. High freelance and private practice potential. Salary: entry KES 50,000-90,000, mid KES 100,000-200,000, senior KES 240,000-500,000+ (private practice can earn more).
Further reading
This role is rated 18 out of 100 today. Save it and the app keeps that number, then tells you by how much it has moved when the record is next reviewed.