Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Analysing Data or Information Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

The Work

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of eye abnormalities and diseases, and perform surgery to preserve and prevent sight loss in patients.

Most Ophthalmologists are based in hospitals. They liaise and work together with other medical professionals, such as nurses, neurologists, rheumatologists, diabetologists and endocrinologists, as well as other eye health professionals, including optometrists (opticians).

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Perform ophthalmic surgeries such as cataract, glaucoma, refractive, corneal, vitro-retinal, eye muscle, or oculoplastic surgeries.
• Perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.
• Diagnose or treat injuries, disorders, or diseases of the eye and eye structures including the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva, or eyelids.
• Document or evaluate patients' medical histories.
• Provide or direct the provision of postoperative care.
• Perform, order, or interpret the results of diagnostic or clinical tests.
• Develop treatment plans based on patients' histories and goals, the nature and severity of disorders, and treatment risks and benefits.
• Prescribe or administer topical or systemic medications to treat ophthalmic conditions and to manage pain.
• Perform laser surgeries to alter, remove, reshape, or replace ocular tissue.
• Provide ophthalmic consultation to other medical professionals.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and disease of the eye and visual system. Ophthalmologists diagnose, medically treat and perform surgery to preserve vision and prevent sight loss in patients.

The specialty of ophthalmology offers a unique opportunity for a range of sub-specialisations including paediatrics, neuro-ophthalmology, glaucoma, oculoplastics/orbit, vitreo-retinal, cornea & anterior segment, refraction, ocular oncology, trauma, and medical retina.

The specialty of Ophthalmology in Ireland includes two career structures:

Medical Ophthalmology

Surgical Ophthalmology

Training to be an Ophthalmologist takes several years and the career pathway is as follows:

1. Medical Degree - a five to six-year undergraduate medical degree programme at one of the six medical schools in Ireland.
2. Internship - newly graduated doctors spend 12 months training in hospitals as an Intern (equivalent to ‘house officer’ in some jurisdictions), working as part of a team with nurses and experienced doctors, and earning their first salary as a doctor.
3. Basic Specialist Training - Towards the end of the intern year, a doctor must choose an area of medicine to continue training in, as part of their Basic Specialist Training (BST). There are 10 BST programmes in Ireland, and one of them is Ophthalmology.

Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO) is the Medical Council accredited postgraduate body responsible for the delivery of Specialist Training in Ophthalmology. There are two career structures to choose from Medical Ophthalmology and Surgical Ophthalmology.

4. Higher Specialist Training (HST) (also through the Irish College of Ophthalmologists) and entry is very competitive. It takes four to six years to complete and during this time a doctor works as a Specialist Registrar (SpR). On satisfactory completion of HST, SpRs receive a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST) which allows them to enter the Specialist Division of the Medical Council and work as consultants.

Many doctors spend some time working abroad and building up their portfolio of research, audits and publications before becoming a consultant.

Professional Development

Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO) provides further training and continuous professional development courses on a regular basis for members. The technology constantly changes and new treatments are developed, so it is important to keep up-to-date with the latest developments. Fully qualified Ophthalmologists can work for the HSE in community and in hospitals and/or in private practice.

You may also pursue a career in medical research and/or teaching.

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €82k - €150k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
HSE/ Salaryexpert/ Indeed/ Erieri

Last Updated: August, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The annual average employment growth for medical practitioners was slightly above average over the five-year period, with strong growth between 2021 and 2022. Almost 30% of those employed in this occupation were non-Irish citizens, with employment permits still acting as a source of supply of skills; over 2,100 new permits were issued in 2022 across a range of specialities. Supply from the third level education system is set to expand by 200 additional places by 2026 (beginning with an increase of 60 places each in 2022 and 2023). Given the duration of medical training, however, this increased supply is not expected to have an impact on the labour market in the short-to-medium term.

Issues in relation to GPs are being addressed with an announcement that the number of GP training places will be increased to 350 in 2024 from 258 in 2022 and an expansion of the non-EU GP Training Scheme from 50 to 250 by the end of 2024.43 However, the increasing demand for medical practitioners as a result of factors such as the rollout of the Sláintecare Action Plan, the ageing population and the tackling of the lengthy waiting lists (exacerbated as a result of COVID-19) will result in continued shortages for this occupation.

• Irish College of Ophthalmologists

  • 121 St Stephens's Green, Dublin, 2
  • (01) 402 2777
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish Medical Council

  • Kingram House, Kingram Place, Dublin, 2
  • (01) 498 3100
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here