Work for American Best

Hello everyone,

Have anyone ever worked for American Best as an optometrist? Can you please tell me a little bit out the working condition? I have heard many not so good reviews about the company and is not sure if I should work there or not. Thanks

Originally Posted by trangngy477

Hello everyone,

Have anyone ever worked for American Best as an optometrist? Can you please tell me a little bit out the working condition? I have heard many not so good reviews about the company and is not sure if I should work there or not. Thanks

I'm going to be short and blunt here. It's the absolute worst that optometry has to offer. In fact, I'd stop short of calling it "optometry." If you need the cash, then so be it, but be aware that you'll be doing roughly 8 "exams" per hour (yes, you read correctly). I have several friends who went to them right out of school, enticed by the 6 figure salary. None of them lasted more than a year and one told me she would routinely cry on the way home from work (not kidding). I think that's a bit extreme, but it's garbage optometry at its worst.

Originally Posted by Jason K

I'm going to be short and blunt here. It's the absolute worst that optometry has to offer. In fact, I'd stop short of calling it "optometry." If you need the cash, then so be it, but be aware that you'll be doing roughly 8 "exams" per hour (yes, you read correctly). I have several friends who went to them right out of school, enticed by the 6 figure salary. None of them lasted more than a year and one told me she would routinely cry on the way home from work (not kidding). I think that's a bit extreme, but it's garbage optometry at its worst.

Hi Jason,
Thank you for the information. I was a little bit skeptical about taking the offer but now I'm pretty sure that I will decline it. Thanks again.

Originally Posted by trangngy477

Hi Jason,
Thank you for the information. I was a little bit skeptical about taking the offer but now I'm pretty sure that I will decline it. Thanks again.

How much was the offer?

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Originally Posted by OATAcer

How much was the offer?

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It's almost always going to be 105K/yr....and you'll earn every penny.

I rather do prison retinoscopy and getting paid cash. But I have to wear Kevlar gloves so they don't bite my hand during the slit lamp exam.

Originally Posted by Jason K

It's almost always going to be 105K/yr....and you'll earn every penny.

Private practice is the way to go.

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Originally Posted by OATAcer

Private practice is the way to go.

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You'll likely take a 25K to 30K dollar pay cut, and that's IF you're able to find a FT position in an office that's hiring (there aren't many around). As terrible as America's Best is, it's the only option for many people graduating from OD programs these days. If the majority of new grads were finding their way into respectable positions in private offices, hospitals, or starting their own offices, I wouldn't be on here, regardless of the incomes that one could expect in those settings.

I'm here because most of you say "Private practice is the way to go," but there's no way for more than a few of you to ever get there.

If you are smart, you will listen to Jason K. I have read many of his posts and I have to agree with him 100%. If anything, I would be grateful of him telling the honest truth about the current state of optometry.
For pre-optometry students, you still have time to change your mind about considering optometry as a career. For current optometry students, it is kinda late for you guys, you will soon find out the reality of optometry once you graduate.

Originally Posted by OATAcer

Private practice is the way to go.

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Wait, wait, wait.
You're advocating both working at a private practice and going to the new schools?
Those two are on completely opposite ends of the spectrum.

It's been established that private practice doctors would prefer NOT to hire graduates from these schools. Not only because these graduates are not getting the proper experience from their internships/externships, but also because most optometrists HATE the over-saturation created by these schools. The only fan is the AOA, so I guess you can go work for them.

Please explain how your degree is 'the same,' when graduates from established schools are seeing thousands of complicated patients (GLC, AMD, HTN, DM) while graduates from new school are seeing hundreds of refractive cases.

I hope your 'private practice' comment meant that you'll be starting your own practice, cold.

Naysayers, I said private practice. Don't jump to conclusions like women do. It will be my own private practice. Have a nice week.

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Originally Posted by OATAcer

Naysayers, I said private practice. Don't jump to conclusions like women do. It will be my own private practice. Have a nice week.

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Keep clinging to that. I could list countless 1st and 2nd years who said the same thing. Most of the are PT at several locations.....working commercial. You guys just don't see that the math is not there. You're done before you even start. Don't say you weren't warned.

Originally Posted by OATAcer

Naysayers, I said private practice. Don't jump to conclusions like women do. It will be my own private practice. Have a nice week.

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Racist and sexist are we now? 2 for 1. It is true 65% of OD grads are women and women don't usually care about their careers as much as men but come on men have been getting lazy in recent years so it may change.

BTW I just learned that most SUNY graduates come out and work for ophthalmologists. About 25% work commercial and another 15-30% or so work private practice full time or part time. So if you want good job prospects come to SUNY.

Originally Posted by Shnurek

BTW I just learned that most SUNY graduates come out and work for ophthalmologists. About 25% work commercial and another 15-30% or so work private practice full time or part time. So if you want good job prospects come to SUNY.

Ding. Ding. Ding. Challenge.

I will have to demand to see proof since your assertation goes against everything any current ODs thought process holds to be reality in 2012.

Lets see, SUNY graduates 80 ODs per year. So by your claim, 20 go to work in commercial, (about) 20 go to work in private practice and the other half of the class, all FORTY of them find work teching for an ophthalmologist (which is about all a newly graduated OD is good for in an OMD office if truth be told---a good COT will be able to scope and refract better than you in the beginning).

I will not go so far as say you are lying. But if true, SUNY graduates are unlike every other optometry school in the country where likely upwards of 75% enter commercial practice right after graduation (and that is a educated guess on my part).

So where can I find this breakdown? Is it on their webstite?

No, unfortunately its anecdotal. A recent grad (2 years ago) explained these rough statistics to me. I see no reason why he would be lying.

Originally Posted by Shnurek

No, unfortunately its anecdotal. A recent grad (2 years ago) explained these rough statistics to me. I see no reason why he would be lying.

There's a difference between lying and being misinformed/guessing.

I also agree with Jason and Tippytoe about the future of optometry. I am a recent grad (2 years ago) and it is hard out there to find your dream job. Private practice was what I was told while in school and it was also what I thought I would be doing after graduation. However, after trying door-to-door within 25 mile radius as well as online job search for 2 months, I ended up in commerical practice as an indep contractor for the leasing doc at two different locations about 20 miles out. So yes, private practice is most of everyone's dream job but reality is very different.

Originally Posted by Shnurek

No, unfortunately its anecdotal. A recent grad (2 years ago) explained these rough statistics to me. I see no reason why he would be lying.

Dude you can't just be throwing random numbers out on the web and expect people to take you serious.

My friend, you must learn Rule # 1 in Optometry: ALL optometrists almost always lie. It's a tool to survive in the dog-eat-dog profession we are in. (Come to think of it, you may fit right in).

" I have a million dollar practice". (I've heard this one so many times from docs in what turns out to be little run-down shacks that I chuckle just thinking about it).

" Yes. Mrs. Jones, those $500 glasses look much better on you than the $100 ones".

" The private label contacts I sell exclusively at my office are much better than the Acuvues you've been wearing for 10 years and can get for $18 online."

" Yes, I love my job and I could use partner in a few years".

"I have no regrets being an optometrist".

"It's not big deal to take 30 years to pay off my student debt".

"Those $59 glasses at Wal-mart are terrible glasses".

"I'm never ashamed at telling people my "office" is inside Walmart". (Just a little story if you will induldge me: I was at a oncologists office with my wife one time and he was making small talk and found out I was an optometrist. He said, "Oh, where is your office?" It was at that moment that I realized I was sooooo happy I didn't have to hang my head and ashamedly say, "I work at Walmart". No doubt he thought me little more than a good nurse at least better than a chiropractor. But at least I held out a professional demeanor by having a real free-standing private optometry practice when probably his only experience with optometry is seeing the 'Walk-ins Welcome' optometry' sign at the Walmart cash registers or maybe the 2 glasses for $89 sign in the parking lots.)

"You must get your eyes examined every year or they will fall out".

" I am a real doctor because Medicare says so".

As a general rule. Whatever an optometrist says he makes, it's probably safe to assume it's about half to 75% in reality.

It's still not a terrible job or a bad lifestyle.........AT THIS POINT (although it has been better). But all signs point to it worsening. ALL signs!

We are the local hardware store owner getting ready to be run out of business by Home Depot and Lowes and given a job as a fork lift driver in return.

If Optometry were the stock market, everyone would be pulling their money and out running.

Originally Posted by Shnurek

No, unfortunately its anecdotal. A recent grad (2 years ago) explained these rough statistics to me. I see no reason why he would be lying.

Since when was hearsay a credible source of information? Was this recent grad doing one of those surgical rotations at the time lol? Sometimes saying "i dont know" shows the intelligence of an individual rather than jumping to answer any question that comes up on this site. I wonder at times if people post just to increase the number under their user names.

Originally Posted by Shnurek

BTW I just learned that most SUNY graduates come out and work for ophthalmologists.

I find this very hard to believe.

Originally Posted by Shnurek

BTW I just learned that most SUNY graduates come out and work for ophthalmologists. About 25% work commercial and another 15-30% or so work private practice full time or part time. So if you want good job prospects come to SUNY.

This actually made me laugh out loud. Shnurek, as usual, you are off in an optometric fantasy world that exists not in reality, but is rooted in what you would like to be true. No amount of imagination can alter reality.

Whoever told you that "most" students from SUNY head into OMD offices is on some sort of mind-altering substance. I'm not tightly connected with the program there, but that's just total nonsense. It fits into your view of what optometry should be, so you buy it.

BTW, I don't know who came up with the concept that working in an OMD office is some sort of OD oasis. In most situations, particularly as a new grad, you're going to be doing refractions and CL fittings on healthy patients.

Originally Posted by Jason K

Now you just sound desperate.

You should see what he was posting on the radiology forums.

I think he plans on using his OD to start a liposuction clinic where he also performs appendectomies.

Originally Posted by johnnydrama

You should see what he was posting on the radiology forums.

I think he plans on using his OD to start a liposuction clinic where he also performs appendectomies.

lol...no comment

yeah pretty much no defense left now after everyone chimed in.

Next time save yourself the embarrassment rather than saying things like: "Some dude told me so its probably true"

Originally Posted by balltc

yeah pretty much no defense left now after everyone chimed in.

Next time save yourself the embarrassment rather than saying things like: "Some dude told me so its probably true"

I care very much about winning e-fights My anecdotal evidence is just as good as anyone else's on an anonymous internet forum.

OK, here is something actually useful and somewhat objective to put into us into perspective. http://www.revoptom.com/content/d/ne...vents/c/14557/

I know its from 2009 and I'd be happy if anyone found something more recent. Now lets cut the e-thug attitudes waving our e-penises around and say something useful that does not include blanket generalized statements about how optometry is ending and we are all wasting our lives.

Originally Posted by Shnurek

I care very much about winning e-fights My anecdotal evidence is just as good as anyone else's on an anonymous internet forum.

If that's what you call "evidence" thats your problem.

Secondly, it wasn't much of an e-fight but rather a beat down. We can avoid this in the future if people such as yourself refrain from posting bs rather than credible info. This is getting old now so I'll leave it at that...

The link you posted had some interesting information but most of it pertains to what 4th year students expected to happen after graduating. Expectations obviously differ from experiences. Interesting though...

Originally Posted by Shnurek

I care very much about winning e-fights My anecdotal evidence is just as good as anyone else's on an anonymous internet forum.

This speaks volumes.

Originally Posted by johnnydrama

You should see what he was posting on the radiology forums.

I can only guess......

"I think ODs should be allowed into radiology residencies...you know, because ODs are physicians in the eyes of CMS."

I hope I'm wrong......

Originally Posted by Jason K

I can only guess......

"I think ODs should be allowed into radiology residencies...you know, because ODs are physicians in the eyes of CMS."

I hope I'm wrong......

Pretty close actually.

Originally Posted by Shnurek

lol I got owned again. I think I need a break from SDN until I start reading things more carefully.

Yes please. We will count the seconds until your return...

Originally Posted by trangngy477

Hello everyone,

Have anyone ever worked for American Best as an optometrist? Can you please tell me a little bit out the working condition? I have heard many not so good reviews about the company and is not sure if I should work there or not. Thanks

Originally Posted by Jason K

I'm going to be short and blunt here. It's the absolute worst that optometry has to offer. In fact, I'd stop short of calling it "optometry." If you need the cash, then so be it, but be aware that you'll be doing roughly 8 "exams" per hour (yes, you read correctly). I have several friends who went to them right out of school, enticed by the 6 figure salary. None of them lasted more than a year and one told me she would routinely cry on the way home from work (not kidding). I think that's a bit extreme, but it's garbage optometry at its worst.

The working condition can vary. Depends a lot on your store manager and district manager though. You'll have typical retail hours, rushed 5 minute exams (if its a busy store), constant asking to upsell optional visual fields and glasses coatings/styles. The management rarely appreciate you and so expect to run over your lunch and leaving time. But I think its obvious that its not a highly recommended company. But as Jason said: The "six figures + full benefits" is not even close to the norm in private practice. But most docs I know who have worked there have left between 1-5yrs. To each their own.

Originally Posted by Meibomian SxN

The working condition can vary. Depends a lot on your store manager and district manager though. You'll have typical retail hours, rushed 5 minute exams (if its a busy store), constant asking to upsell optional visual fields and glasses coatings/styles. The management rarely appreciate you and so expect to run over your lunch and leaving time. But I think its obvious that its not a highly recommended company. But as Jason said: The "six figures + full benefits" is not even close to the norm in private practice. But most docs I know who have worked there have left between 1-5yrs. To each their own.

What if you just take your time with each patient, can they give you the boot? I know they might not sign a lease with you again but if I had a contract with them then I wouldn't care if 30 patients were waiting. Let them complain to management Would this work? I'm def not a push over.

Originally Posted by Shnurek

What if you just take your time with each patient, can they give you the boot? I know they might not sign a lease with you again but if I had a contract with them then I wouldn't care if 30 patients were waiting. Let them complain to management Would this work? I'm def not a push over.

Try that and let us all know how it works out for you. Clients (I refuse to call them patients) who go to AB for their glasses do not want you to take your time with them. They want to be in and out in 10 minutes.

Originally Posted by Jason K

Try that and let us all know how it works out for you. Clients (I refuse to call them patients) who go to AB for their glasses do not want you to take your time with them. They want to be in and out in 10 minutes.

Being a customer of America's Best, I completely agree with this. I just want you to give me my new prescription, a trial pair of contacts, and let me order them by myself from home.

Originally Posted by Jason K

Try that and let us all know how it works out for you. Clients (I refuse to call them patients) who go to AB for their glasses do not want you to take your time with them. They want to be in and out in 10 minutes.

People that come in to get their glasses/contacts at most, if not all commercial places are referred to as "customers," not as "patients" by the employees. If you work commercial, you'll feel that way too after a while. After all, these retail places only care about optical sales and use the OD to pump out Rxs for them. Imagine, if you're going to end up in commercial setting, you're devoting 4 yrs of your life and be in debt in the range of 150K-200K to get your OD degree, but in real life you're only be doing a refraction. You can forget all the ocular disease you're trained for in OD school. Recent grads are already having a hard time getting on medical panels due to oversaturation, so I don't know how future grads will be able to get on. If you can't get on medical insurance, you can't do medical eye care that you are trained for while in school. They don't tell you this when you're in school, but this you find out when you graduate and by then it's too late. Retail optometry is taking over and it's ruining the profession.

Originally Posted by NYCBlues

People that come in to get their glasses/contacts at most, if not all commercial places are referred to as "customers," not as "patients" by the employees. If you work commercial, you'll feel that way too after a while. After all, these retail places only care about optical sales and use the OD to pump out Rxs for them. Imagine, if you're going to end up in commercial setting, you're devoting 4 yrs of your life and be in debt in the range of 150K-200K to get your OD degree, but in real life you're only be doing a refraction. You can forget all the ocular disease you're trained for in OD school. Recent grads are already having a hard time getting on medical panels due to oversaturation, so I don't know how future grads will be able to get on. If you can't get on medical insurance, you can't do medical eye care that you are trained for while in school. They don't tell you this when you're in school, but this you find out when you graduate and by then it's too late. Retail optometry is taking over and it's ruining the profession.

Unfortunately, all too true. The sad part is, the pre-ops on here filter out information like this because it doesn't fit into their image of what optometry should be. Many of them hear this stuff, but choose the "optometry is an awesome career prospect because this 1st year OD student I talked to said it was" mentality. The truth is, their fate is practically sealed before they even start. Retail is the future of optometry. The medical side will be there in training only. We're printing out of thousands of refracting techs right now at a cost of about 200K a copy. The retail companies love the idea of more schools - more people who have nowhere else to go but into one of their script production boxes that feeds their opticals. Thousands of people all fighting to get onto a life boat designed for 10. Pretty sad.

If I knew then what I know now.....

Originally Posted by Shnurek

What if you just take your time with each patient, can they give you the boot? I know they might not sign a lease with you again but if I had a contract with them then I wouldn't care if 30 patients were waiting. Let them complain to management Would this work? I'm def not a push over.

You do not sign a lease with America's Best, the company will hire you as an employee. Employees that don't do what their "boss" wants them to (7 minute exams, and push outdated contacts), get fired.

America's Best doesn't care about you and the care you give your patients, they just care about you writing a spectacle Rx so they can sell some glasses. The more spectacle Rx's you generate in one day, the happier management is... regardless if you missed a RD, or didn't have time to explain amblyopia to a parent, etc.

Originally Posted by Jibslider

America's Best doesn't care about you and the care you give your patients, they just care about you writing a spectacle Rx so they can sell some glasses. The more spectacle Rx's you generate in one day, the happier management is... regardless if you missed a RD, or didn't have time to explain amblyopia to a parent, etc.

And an important thing students/doc should not forget is that these 'refracting houses' will not be held liable for the retinal detachment or diabetic retinopathy you miss because you are so rushed to see the next 10 customers tapping their feet waiting for you to give them their Rx. The store doesn't care. It's your license on the line and YOU will be the one sued.

Originally Posted by Tippytoe

And an important thing students/doc should not forget is that these 'refracting houses' will not be held liable for the retinal detachment or diabetic retinopathy you miss because you are so rushed to see the next 10 customers tapping their feet waiting for you to give them their Rx. The store doesn't care. It's your license on the line and YOU will be the one sued.

It's like we've been saying all along. THIS is what people are signing up for today when they choose optometry. This is the future of the profession - retail optical being driven by written Rxs in a commercial setting. Notice, children, that I did not say "Drs. Rx" since it's not at all unlikely that at some point in the near future, ODs will be pushed aside in this setting and replaced with refracting techs if/when they get independent refracting rights, just like they do in many other countries. When that happens, we'll be a giant redundancy. ODs would be stuck between MDs who can do ocular health and refracting techs who can write, sell, and dispense corrective lenses of all kinds. Oh, and then there will be about 50,000 ODs who can fulfill the same roles.

Do yourself a little thought experiment. Imagine you're in charge of some optical somewhere and the law changes one day. Now you can hire/contract an OD for $45 or $50 per hour or per exam to write Rxs and do "eye exams" in your little box with an optical attached to it. Or, you can hire/contract with a refracting technician to sit in the same box writing the same Rxs, but he or she will only charge you $15 /hr or exam. Hmmmmmm......I wonder which one you should choose.

If you read about America's Best and you think to yourself, "I'd never practice in a place like that - I'm going into private practice," you need to really consider what the future holds. There are many, many new grads out there right now working in jobs they never dreamed they'd get forced into. For every "success story" of some new grad working in an OD or MD office for 75K/yr with benefits, there's 20 more working 4 or 5 PT Walmart/Sam's days, trying to make ends meet.

This is real stuff and it's not going to go away any time soon.