Alternative careers for an optometrist?

[danny134r534]

My wife is a UK national and did Optometry BSc in the UK and an MSc in clinical optometry in the UK. I am also from the UK but moved to the USA for a job as a physician. I did not have to do my degree again but matched into a training program in internal medicine. We are both green card holders via family sponsorship. We have looked on how to get her licensed here, the NY state optometry board said they can sponsor some applicants to take NBEO directly although they have not been giving us clear answers and I feel it is most likely this will be rejected. In addition, we really do not want to spend $130k on her education doing a 2 year conversion in Boston. Are there any alternative careers for foreign optometrists that anyone can recommend that would pay $90-100K even?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[ophthalmologeyes]

My wife is a UK national and did Optometry BSc in the UK and an MSc in clinical optometry in the UK. I am also from the UK but moved to the USA for a job as a physician. I did not have to do my degree again but matched into a training program in internal medicine. We are both green card holders via family sponsorship. We have looked on how to get her licensed here, the NY state optometry board said they can sponsor some applicants to take NBEO directly although they have not been giving us clear answers and I feel it is most likely this will be rejected. In addition, we really do not want to spend $130k on her education doing a 2 year conversion in Boston. Are there any alternative careers for foreign optometrists that anyone can recommend that would pay $90-100K even?

I'm not an optometrist so take what I say with a grain of salt, but I might be able to provide some insight...

I'm graduating with my MS in Vision Research from a U.S. college of optometry in like a month; my thesis advisor has been working on starting an advanced standing OD program at the college. Last time we talked, he was telling me that a lot of foreign-trained eyecare professional (both optometrists and ophthalmologists) are unfortunately not given an easy pathway to license in the U.S., so they end up working as ophthalmic technicians--which are not given any license or practice authority. Furthermore, I can confirm firsthand that ophthalmic techs do not make anywhere near $90-100k. So, I see 3 possible routes that could meet your requirements:

1. Your wife works in academia. Not sure where you are located, but there is an opportunity open at Tufts University Medical School in Boston. Here's the link: Clinical Research Coordinator I - Ophthalmology
2. Your wife does the OD conversion program. Far from ideal financially, but she would get to do what she loves. I know, I'm not helpful here.
3. Hear me out on this one: Your wife becomes a physician assistant/associate. In the U.S., PAs have an amazing scope of practice (all dependent on state, but overall a very broad scope). There are a bunch of eye surgery centers that are MD/OD combined practices (MD does the surgery, OD does pre- and post-op care). As a PA, it would be totally allowable (and not at all unprecedented) for your wife to essentially practice as an optometrist at such a center doing pre- and post-op care. With her background as a BSc and MSc in optometry, and then a PA license, I think she would be very hireable. Importantly, there are a TON of PA schools in the U.S. (probably at least a dozen in your region)...which means there are options that are MUCH cheaper than optometry school. Plus, PAs make the salary you guys are looking for. Here's a link to search for PA school by you: PA School Finder

The licensing process for foreign-trained eyecare providers is complicated in the U.S. and needs to be fixed, and I'm sorry your wife is stuck in the middle of that. Hope something here helps! And even better if NBEO gets back to you!