Why optometry??

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cpw

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Hey everyone ..

I guess I'll start off the "why I picked optometry thread"

I didn't know what I wanted to do with myself in college. I started off pre-pharmacy. then, i worked as a pharmacy technician for Eckerd (a large southern chain like walgreens) and hated it! Patients treated the pharmacists like nothing more than pill dispensers who didn't go to school for six years.

So, I decided to major in biochem and go work in biotech. (that's an up and coming field right?) Well, the jobs I could get right out of school paid NOTHING and I wasn't really happy their either.

So, I started researching optometry. I'd always been interested in it since I've been wearing glasses since I was five. (and probably needed them before that this was just my first exam) My corneas are warped and too thin (which i found out when I tried to have lasik surgery) which my OD says "could" be the result of being born premature. (O2 in the incubator)

Anyway, to make a long story short, (too late) I worked with three OD's as a head receptionist for a year and LOVED it. Not necessarily being a receptionist.. but learning about what they were doing and how they ran their practice. I took my post-bacc requirements at a local college.. studied for the OAT.. applied to three schools.. and got accepted at 2. So, there ya have it folks..

Mainly I like optometry because you can be a person's primary care provider (like a dentist) and get to know someone's family. I get asked why not be an OMD all the time. My reason is that I'd rather be someone they see every year and trust for their primary care.. then the specialist they see when they already know they have a problem. (or want their eyes lasered)

Anyway, my novella has grown long enough. I'll let someone else tell their story now.

What about you abs1?

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:D :D
Hey cpw!
Sounds like youre entering the right field!
I got interested in optometry in a similar fashion. I ended up working for one of the large chains as a contact lens tech just for a summer job. This was after my junior year as a psyc major. I thought I wanted to be a psychologist. Welllll, I knew immediately that this whole OD thing was for me after just a few days!

You see (and youll have to pardon my rambling), I have always loved bio, anatomy, and the like. I sorta forgot my love for health care in school and didnt really know what I wanted to do? I just knew people interest me and I wanted to help them, so thats how I got into psyc.

Well, my time in an opt office made me realize its a great HIDDEN health care profession. So I got my degree in psyc and went back to comm college to take the extra classes. I like to think of opt as a hidden treasure of a profession. Its not as big as allopathic or detistry, etc, but thats part of whats great about it. I guess the main reason I decided on opt. was that I like the idea of being involved in primary care which is less stressful, you can actually have somewhat of a life outside opt. Its also totally fascinating to me (as are all the health care fields), and it just doesnt seem like too bad of a job. It just fits me perfectly.

Soooooooooooo, (if you are still awake?) thats my epic. A lot of people ask me also why I dont want to be an OMD. I have no desire to be a MD, even though thats hard to believe. (My bro is a MD surgeon and my dad is a OD btw). I just dont want the stress and the lack of a life. Sure the $$ is better, but its not worth it to me. Id love to have the knowledge of an MD (just cause it interests me), but not the life of an MD.I am also an emotional kind a guy that wouldnt enjoy life or death experiences too much. Thats another big reason why I chose opt.

Well, I need to rest now after that one! Phewwwwwwwwwwwwww. Sorry bout that. :cool:
Keep the convo going cpw!
(I say we try to single-handedly take over this whole board! Lets out-thread them all!)

abs1
 
Another good informative board of optometry is the Optcom Online Community. It's a forum where hundreds (literally) of OD's from around the country discuss issues/treatments/ licensing.. etc....

(and have a little fun togther now and then) I've been reading things there for awhile to learn what it's like once you're out of school and they're really great. it's made me realize what a small world optometry really is. (which is probably why it appeals to me so much)
Someone will mention a professor and suddenly the next day there are ten responses from people that also went to that optometry school around the same time and also had that professor. It's neat to watch.

I'll try to post the address here when i get back there.
 
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THANKS for the info, cpw!! Ive actually been there. Its another good site.

So, cpw, what do you think school will be like? How hard? Im guessing its gonna be pretty tough with all that geo optics and whatnot. YIKES!!

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Im just anxious to go. Ive been waiting for 2 years to get all this pre-req stuff finished and its finally done! So, IM READY FOR ACTION!!!!

:D :D

Where are you going to school, cpw? Im doing the financial aid stuff right now, not too much fun is it? Oh wellllllllllllll.
 
I'm heading to UHCO in the fall. I got my book list in the mail a few days ago and cringed at how many books there were. Although, most of them were "recommended" which I've been told by many second years means.. do not purchase! :)

The first year is supposed to be rough.. mainly with the adjustment period. But, I've actually heard it's the SECOND year.. at least at UHCO.. that's the killer. that's when you're taking like fifteen hours of classes AND trying to see clinic patients. (ahh!)

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Like yourself I've been waiting to get started for awhile. I graduated three years ago.. work for almost two.. then started taking post-bac requrements. So, now i'm ready to just GET GOING!! :D :D

You should pop by for the SDN chat on Wednesday, abs1.. it's usually fun.. and us OD types could use the company. Gotta educate some MD's and DO's on what we do and how useful we are. ;)

Hope to see you there tomorrow!
 
I'm definitely more educated from you two.... I really appreciate you folks sharing your stories.... I'll see you both in the chatroom sometime.... :D
 
:confused: :confused:
What IS the SDN chatroom??
Does everbody get together at set times or something? Cool!

Hey, cpw, you sound like youre gonna be a great optometrist! I can tell just by talking to you on the comp.

Popoy, its nice to hear that you are so involved and interested in ALL health-care fields. There should be more like you.

:cool: :cool: :cool:
 
The SDN chatroom it's always open, BUT there's a scheduled chat time for every Wednesday at 10pm eastern time.... So come and chat.... That's actually where I first met cpw....

Just go to the home page www.studentdoctor.com and click on chatroom. Or just look at the above page of the forum and you'll see the SDN chatroom link... just click on it.

Thanks for the nice comment... I do wish more people should take interest in all health professions other than the ones they are just involved in.... We are all the inner workings of the health care field. By knowing each other's profession, it can translate to better communication, better working atmosphere, a greater respect of each other, etc.... :cool:
 
Awww shucks I'm just doin' my job. :oops:

I like educating people on what the field REALLY is. (not what it's perceived to be)

Definitely check out the chatroom tomrrow!

We're all just one big love fest here the three of us aren't we :)

At this rate.. the pre-OD forum might top 200 posts. LOOK OUT!!!!! ;) ;)
 
So, Ill be in Philly...cpw will be in Houston...where will you be in DO school Popoy?

So, whats our next topic cpw? :D :D :D :D
 
I'll be attending Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine!!!

DES MOINES, IOWA.... Can't be anymore different from where I came from... That's California!!! :eek:
 
After this post.... we only need 74 more to reach 200!!! :D YEEEAAHHH BABY!!!!
 
IA huh? Awesome! :D :D :D
Ive never been there but I bet it rocks!

73 to go! :cool:

waiting on a cpw topic......... ;) ;)
 
can i say 72.....
 
cpw said:
So, I started researching optometry. I'd always been interested in it since I've been wearing glasses since I was five. (and probably needed them before that this was just my first exam) My corneas are warped and too thin (which i found out when I tried to have lasik surgery) which my OD says "could" be the result of being born premature. (O2 in the incubator)

wow! when you say "warped" are you referring to keratoconus? also, the high oxygen concentration when you were born - did that cause any VF defects or optic nerve atrophy?
 
cpw said:
I worked with three OD's as a head receptionist for a year

hey,

I was wondering how did you get this position?

I graduated with a biochemistry degree and right now I am working for a laboratory that analyzes drinking water for organic contaminants, such as herbicides, pesticides, and other harmful compounds. Like many others, I don’t like lab work and its low pay. I was thinking about working for an optometrist, being that it would be bring me more exposure to the optometry field (which is always very good) and I feel I would enjoy that type of job a lot more. But I have no idea where to go to find one, do u look online such as monster or carrerbuilder or something? ANY advice would be great!!! Please help, I want to quit pretty bad, lol


PS
My reason for choosing optometry is similar to others in that, I need to meet, interact, and communicate with people to a greater extent than what my career has to offer. This is something I feel that is very important in my life. Compared to medical school, the advantage of optometry is that it provides a shorter education. Thus allowing me more time to pursue such goals as marriage and raising a family. Remember ATLEAST 4 additional years of residency and internships for an Ophthalmologist. But since I have very little exposure to the medical field (I never wanted to become a doctor), does anyone know if people actually have time to get married and start a family after medical school but during residency?

Thanks for all the help!
 
Rusunn said:
hey,

I was wondering how did you get this position?

I graduated with a biochemistry degree and right now I am working for a laboratory that analyzes drinking water for organic contaminants, such as herbicides, pesticides, and other harmful compounds. Like many others, I don’t like lab work and its low pay. I was thinking about working for an optometrist, being that it would be bring me more exposure to the optometry field (which is always very good) and I feel I would enjoy that type of job a lot more. But I have no idea where to go to find one, do u look online such as monster or carrerbuilder or something? ANY advice would be great!!! Please help, I want to quit pretty bad, lol

sounds like we have similar backgrounds. I actually was moving to a new area and just started calling docs to see who was hiring. I found two offices looking and once I explained I was pre-OD it made one office even more interested.

So, they offered me a full time job and I said yes. I learned a great deal working for them. (especially with the billing/coding insurance stuff.. which trust me they don't teach ya in school)
 
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