Dr. Brandy Marciano [assumed spelling]: Hello, Shanna [assumed spelling]. 

 Shanna: Hi, Dr. Marciano. 

 Dr. Brandy Marciano: Nice to meet you. Why don't you follow me? 

 Shanna: I'm just one of about 20 patients optometrist Brandy Marciano sees each workday. 

 Dr. Brandy Marciano: I'm just going to have you come on in to the exam room. You can just have a seat right here in the exam chair. 

 Shanna: Dr. Marciano spends most of her time performing comprehensive eye exams. 

 Dr. Brandy Marciano: We're always first checking you for your glasses prescription. Making sure that that's changed. After we check you for glasses, we go ahead, and we check the health of the eye. 

 Shanna: And that's just the beginning. 

 Dr. Brandy Marciano: Do a lot of pre- and post-op for Lasik surgeries and for cataract surgeries. So and prescribe medications, antibiotics, things like that when somebody gets an infection, an abrasion on the eye. There's lots of things that we, we actually do. It's not just about the glasses. 

 Shanna: As a full-time optometrist, you can expect to spend about 40 hours a week working. Plus be prepared to be on call for emergencies. If you choose to work in a corporate setting, you may work even longer hours. 

 Dr. Brandy Marciano: A lot of retail practices are open on Saturdays and Sundays sometimes. 

 Shanna: If you're going to practice optometry, you'll need a license. Here's how to get it. After you complete at least three years of pre-optometric study at an accredited college or university, you then need to enroll in a four-year accredited optometry school. Be prepared for some stiff competition. To give you an idea of what you're up against, there are only about 17 U.S. schools and colleges with accredited optometry programs. Then, once you have your doctor of optometry degree, it's test time. 

 Dr. Brandy Marciano: During optometry school, we do take three national boards. So we are licensed nationally, but then when you decide what, what state you want to practice in, you actually have to take those state boards. 

 Shanna: Once you become an optometrist, odds are, you'll work in a private practice. 

 Dr. Brandy Marciano: We had just wanted to be our own boss. We wanted our own private practice. Yes, and it is more of the trend, you know, for optometry to fall in a private practitioner. 

 Shanna: There's a bright future in sight for aspiring optometrists. Baby boomers are expected to keep you in business. Our growing and aging population means an increased demand for eye care. Job prospects aren't the only upside to optometry. The salary is pretty sweet too. 

 Dr. Brandy Marciano: Normally, even out of your first or second year of practice, a sole practitioner should be making net approximately about $110,000 a year. 

 Shanna: What do you think students should know if they're thinking about going into optometry? 

 Dr. Brandy Marciano: Well, there's a lot of different things. For example, I am the doctor, and I, I do wear two hats in this office. But I'm also a private practitioner. So we own our own business. We are responsible for staff. We're responsible for paying the bills, and that's not something that they really teach you in optometry school. 

 Shanna: After an informative day at the optometrist, and a free eye exam, all I need now are the perfect frames. 

 Dr. Brandy Marciano: These? 

 Shanna: Yes. 

 Dr. Brandy Marciano: These are the perfect fit, right? 

 Shanna: Yes. I love them. 

 Dr. Brandy Marciano: OK. Great. 

 Shanna: Well, I'm Shanna for YouniversityTV, and hopefully by now, you've discovered if optometry is the right career fit for you. See you next time. 

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