The Practice of Optometry and the Training it Requires For Disabled Soldiers Sailors, and Marines to Aid Them in Choosing a Vocation APRIL, 1919 OPPORTUNITY MONOGRAPH Vocational Rehabilitation Series No. 34 Prepared by the Fed- eral Board for Voca- tional Education and issued in cooperation with the Office of the Surgeon General, War Department, and Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Department WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : lilt Note to the Disabled Soldier, Sailor, or Marine. As a disabled soldier, sailor, or marine you should remember that the Office of The Surgeon General, War Department, and all its employees, the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Department, and all its employees, and the Federal Board for Vocational Education and all its employees are mutually interested in your welfare solely. They have arranged a definite plan of eooperation to help you in even- possible way. You can not afford to leave the hospital until the medi- cal oflieers have done everything that they can for you to restore you to phvsical health and strength. Any other course will interfere with your vocational success later. Furthermore, you should by all moans take advantage of the educational opportunities which the hospital has provided for you. While you are making up your mind what line of work you want to follow you should take advantage of the opportunities to try yourself out in the different lines of activities which are provided at the hospital. When oiu-e you have made up your mind as to the employment you want to enter or the kind of training you want the Federal Board to give you after you leave the hospital, you should ask the vocational officers at the hospital to provide for you the kind of training which will advance you in the direction of the occupation which you expect to follow or for which you expect to be trained after you leave the hospital . You will find the educational officers at the hospital eager to render this service for you. and you should consult them early in your hospital career. All disabled soldiers, sailors, and marines in hospitals who want information about reeducation should ask any instructor of the Hospital Educational Service or the representative of the Federal Board for Vocational Education. Men discharged from the military or naval service who want infor- mation should write to or call at the office of the federal Board for Vocational Education, Washington, D. C, or the District Office of the Federal Board of the district in which they are located. The district offices of the Board are located at the following points: Boston, New York City. Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Chicago. Minneapolis, Denver, San Francisco, -tii. 1 Seattle. For addresses see p. 7. Acknowledgment. The material of Ibis monograph was compiled by B". Keid Warren, editor of The Keystone Magazine of Optometry, assisted by several successful practicing optometrists, to whom acknowledgment i- gratfe- fully accorded. The monograph lias been prepared under the direc- tion of charle- II. Winslow, chief of the Research Division of the Federal Board for Vocational Education. Acknowledgment is due Dr. John Cummings. of tie- R sjch I>ivision, for editorial a.-si-tance. (2) ^300^^3 THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY AND THE TRAIN- BStfSi ING IT REQUIRES. No other friend ol relative ever mada such liberal pro- visonf or disabled It is an indisputable fact that the efficiency of the American troops from a war as during the late war was greater than that of any other army. One Jas made C for you! factor which contributed largely to their success is apt to be overlooked by the casual observer, but excited comment wherever our troops excellent medical were thickest in the fray: Our men were properly glassed. P* serviced/or You, for whom this monograph is written, well know how thoroughly men i Q tne nos " and systematically your eyes were examined. Perhaps you do not thorized the Fed- know that the actual testing of your eyes and the adoption of proper vocational Edu- glasses whenever necessary to bring vision up to normal was done in a cation to see to it , . , , * ^. . r that you shall, if number of camps by optometrists. you are entitled What an important part glasses played in the success of our Army the th war^risk tS in- and Navy is a chapter yet to be written. surance act, have , . . . . opportunity. Now that the conflict is over it is fitting to call attention to the oppor- if you want it and tunity of entering a profession which has contributed so much to the f? a i n e d a n d winning of the war. And as optometry is a comparatively strange p l a( ?j d iT l an I d. e word to those not personally concerned with the profession, an explana- o f occupations tion of its meaning had best preface this monograph. lY fe c f America __ _ . offers. What is an Optometrist? It is the duty of An optometrist examines eyes for the detection and correction of the Federal Board visual or muscular defects not requiring medical attention. He uses traimng^for you no drugs; he does not treat diseases of the eye, nor does he practice * n h ^n^'factorv' surgery. To one not familiar with optical sciences it may be difficult farm,oranywhere filsG it becomes to comprehend, then, what the work of the optometrist includes, necessary in order Comparison of his work with two better known and somewhat related ver 1P the 0t top" vocations that of the oculist and that of the optician will perhaps successfully into be the quickest method of explaining the practice of optometry. First, let it be understood that the human eye may be considered ^ceive^this 1 7 in^ as a refracting and focusing mechanism, similar to a camera, as well struction free, but as an organ subject to diseases like any other part of our body. pen tents will be An oculist (a physician who specializes on the eye) deals both with ed^y^the^o^- refraction and muscular deficiencies, and with pathological or diseased ernment wh i l e ..,. r a you jyrg m (; raul . conditions. fog. An optometrist, on the other hand, specializes on the functions of the eye as a refracting and focusing apparatus. An optician grinds the lenses and puts together the necessary fittings to form the eyeglasses prescribed by the oculist or the optometrist. Type of Man Required. The serious nature of the optometrist's work the care of human vision makes it imperative that only men of good moral character and high ideals be admitted to the practice of optometry. An optome- trist should be more interested in helping his patient than in making 113094 14 (3) JLreStnele money: ho should be tactful, and not only professionally competent, but of the type of personality that inspires. confidence. He should man^Tthout^ realize that the completion of his course of technical instruction and man Squired bv !n< * rece *P* oi a license to practice merely made matriculation in a post- his course of iii- graduate course Btretching out to the end of. his days of practice. He apart l frorn his -"hould not enter the profession of optometry unless willing to continue d ^ff 'be^naLd y iov * n S ^' K ^' ^ nover-ending developments in this science and practice. at e ie2r tf^per length of Preparatory Training. bepaici more. If, -^ s the optometrist takes up little in medical studies, his teohmcal receive^ Ple 'moro t,a '"ing requires a briefer time than that of the physician or oculist. than $65 per The optometiist, of course, must he able to recognize the symptoms your last ^nionth of eye diseases, but does not attempt to remedy them: he refers such SL act !Tn *& C*8ee to a physician, yon will receive 1 this same pay In view of the lesser scope of the work of the optometrist his course tire 1 " course off technical training covers only two to four years, as against four to lE*"^!' h ESEseven vears for medical education, thormore, 11 your disability is such The practice of optometry is regulated by law in 11 States, and in ly 3 compensation Hawaii. Philippine Islands, Porto Rico and Alaska. These Lam th^war^rbk 3 in- U;;ua '^ require a general education equivalent, to two years of high surance act is school instruction and (before admission to examination for a license i jtn will continue completion of a course in a school of optometry having an approved sum "^whatever t w -^" oar course, in addition to one year of practical service in an it may be, dur- optometrist's office. course. " The laws of the different States \ai y considerably as to these require- ments, and the prospective optometrist should inform himself as to the provisions of the law in the State in which he expects to practice. A few optometry laws have reciprocity clauses, making it permissible for licensees of one State to practice in another, if You Are Most of the schools have two-year course* somo longer. One of Married. j no universities- Ohio State -has an optometry course laid out over It you are mnr- a period of four years. The course at Columbia University is planned rled,vou and your . it- - t wife together will to cover two years. In a number of instances it has been covered in mnth from the ono ^ car **>" students who were exceptionally well prepared. Hub Government, pro- studies in optical subjects can be counted toward a B. S. decree, for Kether^vvhile^-ou which four years are required, as i- usual. Besides these universities. are taking a course a , mni h or () f schools of optometry in various parts of the country have your course is two to three year courses. A list of such schools and tin ir addresses must live apart' may be obtained from the l-'edoral Hoard for Vocational Kducation. the Government wilL as has al- The Optometrist's Work. ready boen stated, . pay you $66 per The word "optometry' is made up of two Greek words: optoa, wife' $30 i ptr visible and metron, a measure, meaning the measurement of the visual month. The larperp OWCre Examination for detectiou of visual deficiencies includes your familv the *^ larger the amount tests by the; use of charts and of certain precise measuring instruments. eminent for "its For example: One instrument permits inspection of the interior of liT) >0 w'ith vouor tn '' <,),,; unol ' u ' r > measurement of the curvature of the cornea; still separately fromanothcr, the field of vision. With the data obtained by the intelligent being trafned. 1 ar ie of all these instruments the optometrist can determine the nature of the lenses required to correct any refractive errors found. Kormerly glasses were given merely as an aid to vision, now they are utfl t'rlbe d for the relief of strain and its resultant symptoms, such as headache*, etc They are also supplied for efficiency and protection purposes to factory employees, for some workmen without glasses will exhibit as much eye fatigue in 5 hours as others will in 10; and em- Train what yoa plovers are now recognizing this to their own advantage, Thus the field of usefulness and profit for optometrists is ever m?^ W wha't tt you enlarging. have left over ft 6 there. Whatjou Indoor Work Physical Requirements. bHnghiThome An optometrist confines his practice to office work, there being no muc/all^^ou traveling or outdoor activity. Tf desired, his office may be estab- that counts. You lished in his own home. As the work is all indoors, there is no great it to others by physical strain. While sound health and normal strength are always jng'^fhich Unde desirable, robustness is not a first requirement of this vocation: nor Sam stands ready f 11 .1 i i * . , , J to give you en- is possession of all the members essential. A man who lias lost atirely at his ex- hand, an arm, a leg, or even both legs could successfully practice the m^%r your*ln- profession of optometry, if properly fitted with artificial equipment. structwo, and 1 . . " . , ,. support you and It is also quite possible for a man with one eye to practice optometry, your dependents To a determined man this would not prove an insurmountable obsta- training?" ^Daa't cle, though he might be at a disadvantage because some patients think about what ,, . , m., . . , you left ovorthore. might think he could not do his work as well. This is, ot course, un- Train what you reasonable, but should be considered. Several instances are known homeVan'd^orget to the writer of successful optometrists who have lost, the sight of tnerest - one eye through cataract or other cause. A Colorado woman who has been practicing optometry for a number of years sums up some of the advantages of this profession in the fol- lowing words: ' ; There are fewer objectionable features, and more to commend the practice of optometry than in any other profession or scmiprofession. No midnight calls, as in the case of the physician; no direct contact, as in osteopathy, or chiropractic; no proximity to offensive breath, as in dentistry. Variety and fascination attach to the work, besides the joy that comes with doing something that relieves suffering and is beneficial to, humanity. The time required for preparation and getting established | is somewhat less than for other professions; the expense incurred more moderate." The Demand for Optometrists. No man taking up the study of optometry need fear a lack of oppor- tunity when his course is completed. There is a scarcity of optome- trists all over this broad land, and in thousands of optometrists' offices to-day opportunities are open for assistants. As such, an op- tometrist can develop a following, and eventually start for himself. Moreover, the call of young men to the defence of their country cut down the number of students in this, as in all other vocations; hence the number of, graduates from the optometric schools and col- leges is insufficient to meet the demand. Another advantage in following this vocation is the fact that the profession is still in the formative stage. For this reason there are unusual opportunities for progressive, studious, conscientious men of the professional type. The hours of work, which are regular, are of course determined by the individual practitioner; the man who has established his own office can make his hours to suit his own convenience. If he is em- ployed by another optometrist, he will find the hours are not as long as in many other callings. Scope of a Coarse in Optometry. Examples to The curriculum of the course in applied optics in one of our leading universities will give a comprehensive survey of the branches of ter whcse left leg scientific knowledge forming the science of optometry. The follow- ^vetheknccon ing subjects are included in this course: Chemistry, anatomy, physics, aoco ^ u e ^ oflI ^^|te physiology, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, bacteriology, optics, psy- studied machine chology, drawing, pathology, and English composition. Under n ^^rnprfoyed by theoretical and applied optics are of course grouped the chief subjects a railway, bearing upon the science and practice of optometry. The mathemati- Another soldier cal studies are necessary as a foundation for an understanding of the chronf/bronchitis optical science. f& asthma and . . . . . . found it in3dvis- While the university course, in its cultural as well as technical de- able to return to velopment, is desirable, still, as in other professions and callings, sue- ti ' s D e s r a bar- cess and service are not dependent upon the completion of such aj 611 ^ 61 ; ^J* wa f ... , r ,. , , , teamed as a motor course. But general education, culture and personality developed mechanic and se- therefrom are all potent factors in success in any profession, and should p^itiorfas^hauf- be acquired from one source or another before or during technical "* training. A former laborer was weakened by Possible Income. ? g ! msh t 2*53 m the back ana As in other professions, it usually requires a few years to build up a ^ omen co ! u . w fn a practice, but few men who have started under proper conditions mechanical draw- and with fair qualifications have failed to achieve success. An in- e ^ p ioyed in a come of $1,500 or $2,000 yearly is common, and many optometrists drafUn 8 room - earn incomes of from $5,000 to $10,000. As an employee of another A soldiersuffering optometrist, a practitioner can earn from $30 to $50 a week, and even phritis, formerly more a farmer, studied . ,....., machine-shop Optometry is not a means of earning a living with ease nor a haven practice and fs for the indolent, but it does offer a reasonable competency without ?nTtoo?romof a unusual sacrifice or hardship. motor company. I A machinist's , helper lost the power to use his left hand, was ' retrained in a course for steam engineering, and Is now employed as a stationary engineer in a roundhouse. SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY CJLI{Y A A 000 068 255 9 FEDERAL BOARD FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. MEMBERS. Davio F. HorsTox. Chairman, James P. Munroe, Vice Chairman, Secretary of Agriculture. Manufacture awl Commerce. William C. Redfikld, Calvin F. McIntosh. Secretary of Commerce. Agriculture. William B. Wilson, Arthur E. Holder, Secretary of Labor. Labor. P. P. Claxton, Commissioner of Education. EXECUTIVE STAFF. C. A. Prosskr, Director. Lvytox S. Hawkins, Chief Vocational Education Division. Charles II. Winslow, Chief Research Division. H. L. Smith, Chief Rehabilitation Division. DISTRICT VOCATIONAL OFFICES OF THE FEDERAL BOARD FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. All disabled soldiers, sailors, and marines, whether in or out of the hospital, should address their communications either to the Federal Board for Vocational Education, Washington, D. C, or to the district office of the Federal Board of the district in which he is located. The district offices of the Board are located at the following points: District No. 1. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont. Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Office: Room 1201 Little Building, 80 Boylston Street, Boston. Mass. Branch office: 324-326 Masonic Building, Portland, Me. District No. 2. Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. Office: 469 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. District No. 3. Pennsylvania and Delaware. Office: 1211 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. Branch office : 491 Union Arcade Building, Pittsburgh, Pa. District No. 4. District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Office: 606 F Street NW., Washington, D. C. Branch offices: 400 Flat Iron Building, Norfolk. Va.; 411 Park Bank Building, 104 West Lexington Street, Baltimore, Md. District No. 5. North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. Office: 825 Forsyth Building, Atlanta, Ga. District No. 6. Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Office: 412-432 Maison Blanche Annex, New Orleans, La. District No. 7. Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. Office: 1212-1214 Mercantile Library Building, Cincinnati, Ohio. Branch office: Home Service Section, American Red Cross, Park Building, Cleveland, Ohio. District No. 8. Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Office: 1600 The Westminster, 110 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, 111. Branch office: 807 Owen Building, D^roit, Mich. District No. 9. Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. Office: 815-824 Chemical Building, St. Louis, Mo. Branch office: 413 Massachusetts Building, Kansas City, Mo. District No. 10. Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Office: Room 742 Metropolitan Bank Building, Minneapolis, Minn. District No. 11. Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. Office: 909 Seventeenth Street, Denver, Colo. District No. 12. California, Nevada, and Arizona. Office: Room 997 Monadnock Building, San Francisco, Calif. District No. 13. Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Office: Room 539 Central Building, Seattle, Wash. District No. 14. Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Office: 810 Western Indemnity Building, 1000 Main Street, Dallas, Tex. (7) o