Career satisfaction

[Clevelandmdphud]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I recently read an article in the Archives of Internal Medicine that said that Ophtho was one speciality with high career dissatisfaction along with specialities such as Ortho and ENT. I was wondering what factors may contribute to the high career dissatisfaction in Ophtho? It seems like this speciality should have high career satisfaction with low work hours and good pay etc.

I had been considering a career in Ophtho, but was worried about entering the field after reading this article....

 

[Reality check]

Can you please tell me what month, volume and issue of Archives of Internal Medicine you recently read the aforementioned.
It would be appreciated.

Thanks-
RC

 

[Mustafa]

http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/co...88b772b8b6fbb1c30fbc05b62192d#TABLEIOI10404T1

 

[Reality check]

Thank you Mustafa.

RC

 

[Clevelandmdphud]

Do you think that aspects of the speciality are being taken over by O.D.'s and that this is making it harder for ophtho guys? I'm also under the impression that a lot of money is being made with these laser eye surgeries and that there are a few docs who set up massive operations to do tons of these in a day - maybe the other docs can't compete and this is a source of financial strain. These are all just guesses - I'd appreciate any "insider" information.

 

[Richard_Hom]

Dear Dr. Clevelandmdphud,

I'm not going to give you any "inside" information but I can give you a prospective.

As an optometrist, we'd probably assume more of the mundane and "low desnity value" aspects of ophthalmic practice. Ophthalmologists, themselves, will self-select themselves into the more lucrative areas of practice such as retinal diseases and cosmetic refractive surgery (list not totally inclusive). So long there is reimbursement for a 10 minute procedure at 10-20x the rate of a routine examination, this will always be true.

I still believe that most ophthalmologists like to do surgery more than they like "medical ophthalmology "In his regard, optometrists won't jump the "gap" to worry most ophthalmologists.

I also believe that hysteria from a few practitioners on either side serves only to cloud the deeper issues.

Yours truly,
Richard_Hom

Originally posted by Clevelandmdphud
Do you think that aspects of the speciality are being taken over by O.D.'s and that this is making it harder for ophtho guys? - I'd appreciate any "insider" information.

 

[Clevelandmdphud]

Thanks for the info. I'm still wondering about the high level of dissatisfaction among ophtho docs. Any input would be appreciated!

 

[snoopdizzle]

I looked at the study and didn't really approve of their methods. They seemed to only have two categories, "Highly Satisfied" and "Very dissatisfied" and the difference among specialties was not glaring. I wouldn't worry about hating a field, because you can make yourself hate anything. Being somewhat of a natural pessimist I know I'm gonna have an uphill battle with whatever I do. Its so individual that I think such a study doesn't hold much water.