There is an article in the detroit free press about the implantation of Visian Implantable Collamer Lenses and how they can help people who do not qualify for LASIK surgery. It is now available in Michigan. Unlike LASIK, it says that it is reversible and can be fixed or altered if vision problems occur. I was thinking about going into optometry but I am very unsure of its future. What happens if in time insurance covers precedures like these or they become affordable to the average Joe Or the next new eye sight savior comes out? I know this is far off and may never happen, but what will happen to optometry? I have to say that it is very hard to think about spending all of the time and money of becoming an optometrist if there is a risk of glasses some day being used much less or completely replaced all together. I believe it is safe to say that most people would choose to undergo surgery to have better eye sight instead of depending on glasses their ENTIRE life. Knowing most optometrists work in commercial settings where they reley on selling glasses, what will happen to these OD's? I know that OD's would most likely provide the pre and post opt care, but is this enough to live off of?

I know this isn't really addressing the issue or answering the question...but there are actually people out there that prefer to wear glasses because they think they look better with them than without.

Glasses will never disappear.

If they're anything like Intacts.. those came and went five or six years ago. Almost no one got that surgery.

As long as there are people who cant afford expensive cosmetic surgery.. and people who dont' WANT expensive cosmetic surgery when glasses work just as well.... there will be glasses.

any link to the article ?? please :) I'd like to see if this is just like Intacts

Every time a new miracle procedure comes out we hear how it will destroy optometry. The fact is that these procedures never reach the full penetration the "experts" expect. It does, however, help prove Ken's point that OD's shouldn't hang their hat on optical. Bottom line, don't worry.

I found it:

Here (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006603070332)

That's just like the Verisyse lens. Not going to take off.. insurance doesn't cover it... and it's INVASIVE surgery. That skeeves most people out. (yes, that's my technical explanation). This lens works well for people that are WAY over the LASIK cut-off (like -15 plus), but again, not covered by insurance, invasive, and 7,000 dollars.

That skeeves most people out. (yes, that's my technical explanation).

I was searching for the perfect word to describe the "Icky" factor that I get when I read about this surgery or think about injections in the eyeball. Skeeves is the perfect word.... :thumbup:

humm.... just wondering, would future optometrist run into problems, if more and more people became less dependent on glasses. I mean people will always need glasses but just not as much .....

humm.... just wondering, would future optometrist run into problems, if more and more people became less dependent on glasses. I mean people will always need glasses but just not as much .....

It would actually be a good thing for the profession of optometry if fewer people needed glasses. It would force us to do two things:

1) Actually look at the health of people's eyes rather than just do a refraction and get them into the optical
2) Find other areas in which people need our services, be this disease, VT, low vision, or infant exams.

People will always need glasses though.

As an aside: Uncorrected refractive error is one of the leading causes of blindness and low vision even in developed countries. That is, even with access to glasses people are walking around functionally impaired simply because they lack glasses for whatever reason.

I see at least one person a day who comes in 20/100 , lost their glasses TWO YEARS AGO and it just getting around to getting their glasses replaced.

Excuse me... which car is yours again? I need to know who to avoid on my way out. It really helps me explain some of the drivers around here.

It would actually be a good thing for the profession of optometry if fewer people needed glasses. It would force us to do two things:

1) Actually look at the health of people's eyes rather than just do a refraction and get them into the optical
2) Find other areas in which people need our services, be this disease, VT, low vision, or infant exams.Well said. I would add:

3) Eliminate wasted time spent discussing corporate optometry. ;)