Optometry is one of the highly rated medical fields in Nigeria today. The field is becoming more popular in the country with a lot more people putting in for the course in tertiary institutions today. Apart from the special appeal and swagger that comes with all medical professions, the monthly salary is usually a plus. Simply put, optometry is a study and function of the eyes.

If you want to know how much Optometrists earn in Nigeria on the average, you are on the right page. In this post, we will take a look at how much professionals in this field earn in the country. We will consider the average salaries of optometrists that work in government hospitals and optometry clinics. We will also have a glance through how much the experts in private hospitals and clinics earn.

What is the salary of optometrists in Nigeria? 

How much an Optometrist will make is a tricky question. Salaries of optometrists vary per place of work, year of experience and sometimes location. On the average, entry-level optometrists earn N100, 000 – N150, 000 in private hospitals and optometry clinics in Nigeria while Optometrist s in government hospitals earn about N150, 000 – N230, 000.

The average salary for an optometrist will vary based on some core factors, which include the location and the kind of job. Another core factor that affects an optometrist salary is number of years in the profession. Optometrists just starting out should not expect to earn as much as experts with many years of experience. It will take at least five years before one can expect to see a great boast in salary.

Employment type will also be a major contributor to income. Salaries and earnings of doctors that are self-employed or are into partnerships are usually more difficult estimate and can vary due to several other factors.

How to become an optometrist  in Nigeria

Thinking about a career as an optician? Here are some basic steps you need to take to be certified as one. Here, we will consider the steps involved in becoming an Optometrist.

• Be Certified: This is the first step you are expected to take. It is essential you get needed certificate if you want to be a standard Optometrist in Nigeria. You are required to have the obligatory SSCE certificate with a minimum credit pass in the major science course including English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. You are expected to pass the compulsory UTME and post UTME screening exercise before you can be considered for admission to study Optometry. The duration for the nursing program is between 5 – 6 years in the University.
• House Job: Just like in the medicine profession, the house job (also called internship) is a compulsory one-year service where newly inducted Optometrist have the opportunity to work on a professional level with other medical personnel. How much hospitals pay house officers or interns vary. On the average, house officers are paid between N100, 000 – N150, 000 depending on the hospital. House officers working in a Federal hospital or teaching hospital usually earn more than those in the State hospital. The stiff competition for a house job slot has led some hospitals to conduct paper test for prospective medical doctors and Optometrists so they can streamline the number of candidates.
• NYSC: Optometrists, like all other graduates, are expected to go for the compulsory National Youth Service Corps program after their house job. Here, Optometrists are posted to local hospitals or clinics within the state they are deployed. Most people often prefer to work in a private hospital during their service year. This is because most private hospitals pay more during this period and majority of Federal and State hospitals do not pay at all.

Universities that offer optometry in Nigeria

• Abia State University, Uturu
• Bayero University, Kano
• Federal University of Technology, Owerri
• Imo State University, Owerri
• Madonna University, Okija
• University Of Benin, Benin City
• University Of Ilorin, Ilorin

Optometry: What you should know about the field 

Optometry is one of the very productive and lucrative fields in the medical sector. Optometrist are the specialized providers of vision care. These professionals carry out examinations of people’s eyes, diagnose vision issues, and also prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses when needed. They also analyse vision issues and recommend ways to make the vision clearer and better. Like most other medical course, optometry is highly rated and in fact ranks among the most coveted professions in Nigeria today.

Opticians can be used in a variety of professional contexts. These specialists work closely with ophthalmologists optometrists, recommending the use of glasses or contact lenses when need be. Some optometrists take their knowledge to the next level furthering their sturdies to artificial lenses and laser surgery study. With a lot of eye issues in the world today, the importance of optometrists cannot be overemphasized, especially with a lot more diseases relating to the eyes diagnosed today. Optometrists work in clinics and hospitals, whether government owned or a private body runs it.  They are also well paid in the industry and depending on the area they find themselves, they can comfortably savour their pay.

Most optometrists in Nigeria today prefer to work in a government hospital and clinics. Apart from the steady and attractive pay, which is significantly higher than those paid in private sectors, there is opportunity to grow faster and climb higher. Also, some believe they are better exposed and learn more in the government sector.