Is the field of Optometry saturated?

[JoshDunc]

Okay so I have been reading through old threads from 2014, 2011, 2010, etc. about how the field is over saturated? If I go in state I will have about $40,000 in loans per year including tuition, fees, equipment, living expenses, etc. That equates to $160,000 in loans. Excluding interest. My uncle started practicing in 1993 and said he is glad he started then. I don't even want to think of out of state costs. My main concern is that I have picked a potential profession that I will have a lot of student loans but not be able to find a good paying job to pay back those loans.

Is there any advice from recent optometry schools graduates or those in private practice? Do you feel optometry is still a good field to go into? Is 1800 Contacts and other online CL and glasses companies going to clear out the retail portion of practices?

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[Meeehai]

Okay so I have been reading through old threads from 2014, 2011, 2010, etc. about how the field is over saturated? If I go in state I will have about $40,000 in loans per year including tuition, fees, equipment, living expenses, etc. That equates to $160,000 in loans. Excluding interest. My uncle started practicing in 1993 and said he is glad he started then. I don't even want to think of out of state costs. My main concern is that I have picked a potential profession that I will have a lot of student loans but not be able to find a good paying job to pay back those loans.

Is there any advice from recent optometry schools graduates or those in private practice? Do you feel optometry is still a good field to go into? Is 1800 Contacts and other online CL and glasses companies going to clear out the retail portion of practices?

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I'm no graduate or practicing doctor, but here's my viewpoint. I've heard the over saturation issue from almost every field in healthcare, even in medicine. So what should we do? Not specialize in or study anything because there are already too many people doing it? A lot of this seems like paranoia to me coming from prospective healthcare specialists and just straight up whining from current doctors. Perhaps optometry isn't in its glory days anymore (which was a long time ago, it seems), but it is in no way a career path that will leave you homeless or struggling to get by. You will live a comfortable life, and maybe that's an understatement considering the economic conditions of present day. You probably won't be able to afford a mansion or Ferrari, but hey, maybe that's asking for too much. Here's the question you should be asking yourself: do you like optometry and is it something you want to do as a career? If so, I wouldn't let these things bother you. Every field has its own issues, even those outside of healthcare. Keep in mind, most people who post on SDN are fairly negative/pessimistic about their experience. Doctors are more inclined to come on an online board to complain rather than talk about how happy they are. Take anything you read on this forum as you will, but I would also ask this question to multiple practicing optometrists in real life and see what they say.

With that being said, loans do suck and it's something I'm scared to deal with as well. I think with smart spending while in school and a good plan after graduation, we'll be fine. Here's my biggest pet peeve: when I hear current optometry graduates on this forum saying something like "oh man these loans suck, I wish I went to med school instead." It doesn't work that way... I gave up my applications to med school because I didn't like medicine and realized that it would be a nightmare putting in so much work into something I didn't truly enjoy - I probably would've dropped out after the first or second year. But the thing is, we rarely hear from the graduates that have something positive to say about their loans on online boards, and trust me, they exist.

I think the most important thing to remember is that nobody is a prophet or has the ability to see into the future. It's difficult to accurately predict what the field will be like by the time we graduate and find a job. People are quick to see a couple trends and predict the demise of a certain field, but who really knows what it's going to be like? We will be fine. If not, hey, at least you won't be alone. I'll be right there with you when the prophecies of SDN come true and we live in a cardboard box under a bridge my friend.

 

[JoshDunc]

I'm no graduate or practicing doctor, but here's my viewpoint. I've heard the over saturation issue from almost every field in healthcare, even in medicine. So what should we do? Not specialize in or study anything because there are already too many people doing it? A lot of this seems like paranoia to me coming from prospective healthcare specialists and just straight up whining from current doctors. Perhaps optometry isn't in its glory days anymore (which was a long time ago, it seems), but it is in no way a career path that will leave you homeless or struggling to get by. You will live a comfortable life, and maybe that's an understatement considering the economic conditions of present day. You probably won't be able to afford a mansion or Ferrari, but hey, maybe that's asking for too much. Here's the question you should be asking yourself: do you like optometry and is it something you want to do as a career? If so, I wouldn't let these things bother you. Every field has its own issues, even those outside of healthcare. Keep in mind, most people who post on SDN are fairly negative/pessimistic about their experience. Doctors are more inclined to come on an online board to complain rather than talk about how happy they are. Take anything you read on this forum as you will, but I would also ask this question to multiple practicing optometrists in real life and see what they say.

With that being said, loans do suck and it's something I'm scared to deal with as well. I think with smart spending while in school and a good plan after graduation, we'll be fine. Here's my biggest pet peeve: when I hear current optometry graduates on this forum saying something like "oh man these loans suck, I wish I went to med school instead." It doesn't work that way... I gave up my applications to med school because I didn't like medicine and realized that it would be a nightmare putting in so much work into something I didn't truly enjoy - I probably would've dropped out after the first or second year. But the thing is, we rarely hear from the graduates that have something positive to say about their loans on online boards, and trust me, they exist.

I think the most important thing to remember is that nobody is a prophet or has the ability to see into the future. It's difficult to accurately predict what the field will be like by the time we graduate and find a job. People are quick to see a couple trends and predict the demise of a certain field, but who really knows what it's going to be like? We will be fine. If not, hey, at least you won't be alone. I'll be right there with you when the prophecies of SDN come true and we live in a cardboard box under a bridge my friend.

I'm glad someone will be there with me! Lol I feel the same. It seems we only here from the ones who are unhappy in every field. My brother in laws father is a chiropractor out of a job because he lives in a small town. Said he would recommend it. Others I've talked to said they love it. Optometrist, physicians, DPT, DPM, etc I have talked to love their profession and some wouldn't recommend their own profession of optometry, medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy. I'm in the position where I LOVE helping people. I've accepted to chiropractic school and I'm hoping to be accepted to optometry school. Ultimately, my passion is helping people. No matter what field I am in I want to help. Obviously optometry is my #1 choice lol but I think you get the jist.

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[Meeehai]

Here's an interesting thread about debts in the pre allo forums:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/yes-i-am-officially-worthless.1067664/

 

[Snakedoctor1]

I agree with Meeehai's comments. SDN is not the best place for unbiased opinions, especially if you were reading threads from a couple of years ago where certain malcontents who shall remain nameless (JasonK) were spouting negativity all over the place. If you really think you will enjoy Optometry then go for it.

But, I think it is important to understand what is going on with the profession. It is not all paranoia, and Optometry is becoming saturated. I think it is happening in certain areas, not across the nation, but at the rate schools are opening I think it will cause problems in the future. You don't seem to be in the crowd that expects to make millions in Optometry and somehow goes through school without realizing they will have debt when they finish, so I think you will be able to make smart decisions. Just find a way to pay off your loans quickly, and practice where you can make a living, even if it's not necessarily your ideal location. Overall, I still think Optometry is a great career path and I have researched the subject obsessively. Don't discount all the negativity, because there is some truth to it, but don't let it get you too down. When the autorefractor came out, everyone was sure Optometry was finished. I'm sure the third largest group of healthcare providers in the U.S. will always find a way to adapt.

 

[Tippytoe]

Yes. There is a dramatic oversupply of ODs. Very hard to make a living- ANYWHERE!

There is a simple test anyone can perform. Call up a 10 ODs and ask how soon you can get an appointment. It will be same day or tomorrow (and they will probably offer you a free exam if you buy glasses and may even wash your car while you wait). Now call up a dentist, an ophthalmologist, a family doc or any other. You will be lucky to schedule an appointment in a month (if they are even accepting new patients).

THAT will tell you everything you need to know. ODs across the country are in desperate need of paying patients. For-Profit schools are giving out degrees to anyone that can qualify for a $200,000 loan. You become an indentured servant the day you graduate. It won't be long before Wal-mart is paying student's tuition in return for slavitude in their stores.

1-800, Lenscrafters, Walmart, JCPenny's, America's Best, Sam's Club, LensDirect, VisionWorks, Costco, EyeMart Express, and 1,000's of others are siphoning off patients like crazy. There simply isn't enough to go around. Optometry peaked in the 1970's with an eyeglass and contact lenses monopoly (at $200 per contact lens). Now we are supposed to make a living off made up eye disease. "Yes, Ms. Jones, you definitely have dry eyes. I'm going to need to see you back every 3 months...for life".

 

[Snakedoctor1]

Tippytoe, in which areas of the country have you practiced Optometry?

 

[toxsuey]

Yes. There is a dramatic oversupply of ODs. Very hard to make a living- ANYWHERE!

There is a simple test anyone can perform. Call up a 10 ODs and ask how soon you can get an appointment. It will be same day or tomorrow (and they will probably offer you a free exam if you buy glasses and may even wash your car while you wait). Now call up a dentist, an ophthalmologist, a family doc or any other. You will be lucky to schedule an appointment in a month (if they are even accepting new patients).

THAT will tell you everything you need to know. ODs across the country are in desperate need of paying patients. For-Profit schools are giving out degrees to anyone that can qualify for a $200,000 loan. You become an indentured servant the day you graduate. It won't be long before Wal-mart is paying student's tuition in return for slavitude in their stores.

1-800, Lenscrafters, Walmart, JCPenny's, America's Best, Sam's Club, LensDirect, VisionWorks, Costco, EyeMart Express, and 1,000's of others are siphoning off patients like crazy. There simply isn't enough to go around. Optometry peaked in the 1970's with an eyeglass and contact lenses monopoly (at $200 per contact lens). Now we are supposed to make a living off made up eye disease. "Yes, Ms. Jones, you definitely have dry eyes. I'm going to need to see you back every 3 months...for life".

The OD that I shadowed with was booked atleast 4-5 weeks in advance year round. I am in SoCal, one of the biggest "oversaturated areas" and in a city with OD's around.

Now with that said, Optometry is still a fairly new field. There are a large amount of OD's who have not reached the age of retirement since optometry is still fairly new. In the next 5-10 years when the first graduates begin their retirement, there will be more of a balance with incoming and outgoing OD's (just like every other field)

 

[Snakedoctor1]

Now with that said, Optometry is still a fairly new field. There are a large amount of OD's who have not reached the age of retirement since optometry is still fairly new. In the next 5-10 years when the first graduates begin their retirement, there will be more of a balance with incoming and outgoing OD's (just like every other field)

Your post was going so well until that last part. Optometry is not that new, and many have already reached and surpassed retirement age.

There are areas of the country where Optometrists are thriving, regardless of what some think, but the retirement rate of ODs will be nothing compared to the influx of new students. It absolutely will not even out. That's a problem.

 

[OpticalBlackOut]

Now with that said, Optometry is still a fairly new field. There are a large amount of OD's who have not reached the age of retirement since optometry is still fairly new. In the next 5-10 years when the first graduates begin their retirement, there will be more of a balance with incoming and outgoing OD's (just like every other field)

Hahahaha, what?
The Illinois College of Optometry was established in 1872.
Oh right, SoCal. SCCO was founded in 1904.

Those "first graduates"...Yep, they sure haven't retired yet.

 

[toxsuey]

Hahahaha, what?
The Illinois College of Optometry was established in 1872.
Oh right, SoCal. SCCO was founded in 1904.

Those "first graduates"...Yep, they sure haven't retired yet.

They were founded at that point, but at what point were they shooting out 40+ graduates a year? I can assure you it wasn't 1872. I had a good article with some information on when the school's were founded and how many graduates come out of schools per year but I am having trouble finding it. Will look more later today and post

 

[OpticalBlackOut]

They were founded at that point, but at what point were they shooting out 40+ graduates a year? I can assure you it wasn't 1872. I had a good article with some information on when the school's were founded and how many graduates come out of schools per year but I am having trouble finding it. Will look more later today and post

Sorry, I didn't mean to debate when exactly the first generation of ODs graduated. (Edit: I still think I'm right though. Where does the number 40 even come from? You can easily set the number at '100+ graduates/year' but that doesn't change your original statement of 'first graduates')

The point I was trying to make is the sentiment that "the baby boomer generation will need more graduating optometrists" is propaganda from people who stand to make money from the 200K tuition.

The field is oversaturated, undeniably so in California, New York, and all other major metropolitan areas. Here's a workforce study that the American Academy of Optometry likes to hide the results of: http://www.reviewofoptometry.com/content/d/news_review/c/49289/

Edit #2:
Feel free to read the actual landmark study or get opinions from Primary Care Optometry News, Optometry Times, ODs on facebook...really anywhere but the AOA.

Here's my favorite summary (http://optometrytimes.modernmedicin...sociation/optometric-manpower-study?page=full):
it mentions that current optometrists "felt they can handle a 32% increase in patient visits without affecting their current structure (schedule)."
That clearly screams oversaturation.

About 7-8 years ago, I was in your shoes...I also shadowed and eventually worked for an optometrist in southern california with a waitlist of 2+ weeks.
That means absolutely nothing when I found out the net of the practice and the fact that vision care plans pay about $50/exam...if you're lucky.

Don't get me wrong (and my recent posts may not be reflecting it); I love my job. As I've stated before though, the cost v.s. benefit ratio is just not in our favor