An optometrist. I took it to the next level and got TPA certified which means I can prescribe pharmaceuticals for ocular conditions such as glaucoma, conjunctivitis, uveitis, etc and I am licensed to do minor surgical techniques such as removing metallic foreign bodies from the cornea as well as manage post surgical cataract patients with ophthalmologists.
Not sure about how difficult it is currently but when I applied back in 1984 it was rather difficult you needed a college GPA of at least 3.3 and a solid extracurricular record, and applicants had to pass an entrance interview as well as a series of entrance exams.
My dad was an optometrist so that certainly helped. In the years after I graduated it became much more difficult and the requirements much more stringent.
The reasons that optometry is such a desirable profession and is often in the top 10 list of best careers is that it doesn't have the same level of responsibility and clinical care as a surgeon (not much in the way of emergency calls in the middle of the night), schooling is 4 years shorter than it is for an MD, the practice opportunities are almost endless, you can practice part time in a storefront, be an independent practice owner like I was, work in a group setting, an educational facility, a clinic.. work for a busy ophthalmological office, work at a military base.. etc
During my 30+ years of practice I was regularly contacted to inquire as to my availabilty, ODs were and probably still are, always in great demand. Early in my career I applied for a military base position but I opted against it. Their frustration was palpable they asked me "why can't we get an optometrist?". There were good reasons that go beyond the scope of this already long post but it was basically because they weren't offering enough compared to the competition.
