Comprehensive Ophthalmology's future?

[MR1]

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As an intern about to start ophtho training I keep thinking about this question, is the general ophthalmologist a dying profession. All aspects of medicine continue to become so sub-specialized. I remember an ortho guy telling us in med school he just did total hips but was still so busy he was considered just doing left hips.

Anyway a few issues concern me about becoming a general ophtho, (by the way the concept of being a general ophthalmologist is appealing to me). First OD's continue to do more (a fact, how much they will continue to do - who knows but this is not meant to start a battle, just stating the facts). I have heard of eye drops (now idea what the drug is) that actually reverse vision loss in cataracts. I know this can't be total BS as it was being funded by I think Michigan's ophtho dept. I tried to find info online but couldn't.

I like the thought of doing cataract extractions, some muscle surgery, a few lasers (focal, PRP, yag), maybe a glaucoma laser on occasion, some basic plastic stuff as well. I just wonder if that will be the case in 10 yrs, or will the comprehensive ophthalmologists just be doing cataract surgeries and maybe not as many?

 

[Mirror Form]

I have heard of eye drops (now idea what the drug is) that actually reverse vision loss in cataracts. I know this can't be total BS as it was being funded by I think Michigan's ophtho dept. I tried to find info online but couldn't.

Sounds like total BS to me.

 

[Wolverine98]

I have heard of eye drops (now idea what the drug is) that actually reverse vision loss in cataracts. I know this can't be total BS as it was being funded by I think Michigan's ophtho dept. I tried to find info online but couldn't.

N-acetylcarnosine is the drop. It's sold as Can-C in Europe and the veterinary world. It was developed and studied by a Russian scientist (can't remember the name off the top of my head). It seemed to have a temporary effect in rats. It's sold for dogs and cats in some countries, but I don't know anything about it's effect in those animals.

You won't find much about it in human studies in the peer-reviewed literature, and most of those are written by that scientist who developed it. That gentleman also happens to be the person who's marketting it and selling, so, if I were you, I'd take all of his claims with a large grain of salt.

Dave

 

[westernmed007]

Ya I too am really interested in what people have to say about the future of comprehensive.

PS I know its what matters most but please don't turn this into a "its what gets you out of bed in the morning thread"

 

[rubensan]

in a large urban area, comprehensive ophthalmology means cataract surgery, refractuve surgery and medical management of glaucoma. in rural communities that do not have pediatric ophthalmolgists, glaucoma specialists and oculoplastics people, comprehensive ophthalmologists can do pretty much everything short of vitrectomy.

i can understand your concerns, but every field has its future in question. ask radiologists about their future and there are concerns on the horizon. derm and anesthesia have concerns as well.
make informed decisions about the field that you choose, but you can't live your life being completely risk averse.

Ya I too am really interested in what people have to say about the future of comprehensive.

PS I know its what matters most but please don't turn this into a "its what gets you out of bed in the morning thread"