Could not recommend Optometry as Career

[IndianaOD]

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It was recently announced that TWO MORE optometry schools are in the works! Absolute insanity. Optometry was already in an oversupply situation before 3 new schools opened up over the past 2-3 years. Now we have even more.

Optometrist incomes are flat or declining, new grads are having trouble finding good jobs, and professional satisfaction is on the decline. Students deserve better after 8+ years of education and multiple six-figure debt.🙁

I'm sorry to say that I do not recommend the profession.

 

[blackhole2]

Where was this announced?

 

[socal2014]

It was recently announced that TWO MORE optometry schools are in the works! Absolute insanity. Optometry was already in an oversupply situation before 3 new schools opened up over the past 2-3 years. Now we have even more.

Optometrist incomes are flat or declining, new grads are having trouble finding good jobs, and professional satisfaction is on the decline. Students deserve better after 8+ years of education and multiple six-figure debt.🙁

I'm sorry to say that I do not recommend the profession.

Have you experienced any of these oversupply "effects"?

 

[outsidechance]

It was recently announced that TWO MORE optometry schools are in the works! Absolute insanity. Optometry was already in an oversupply situation before 3 new schools opened up over the past 2-3 years. Now we have even more.

Optometrist incomes are flat or declining, new grads are having trouble finding good jobs, and professional satisfaction is on the decline. Students deserve better after 8+ years of education and multiple six-figure debt.🙁

I'm sorry to say that I do not recommend the profession.

How many optometry schools total are there in the USA? and average class sizes?

 

[IndianaOD]

Have you experienced any of these oversupply "effects"?

Most all of us do. The frustrating thing is you can't just be a good eye doctor and fill your books. I wish I could find the source, but I know a survey in the not too distant past showed the average OD was only seeing 2/3 of the patient load that they wanted to.

It is very easy to see the oversupply. I know a lot of young ODs who can't find a solid stable job. They frequently travel all over the place working 2-3 different commercial or private gigs to make ends meet.

Pick any given area in the country and I bet you could schedule a routine eye exam within 2 days. The earliest my dentist could get me in was 6 weeks, the local pediatricians don't take new patients, and a physical with a family MD is a month out. My private practice is probably close to the busiest in town and I could see a lot more patients.

If we did not have oversupply we wouldn't have ODs seeing 40 patients a day at these horrible retail locations. Out here in the real world an O.D. will stab another O.D. in the back to keep from losing a patient. I wish it wasn't true guys and gals.

You guys need to keep on top of these issues. I would not let my children go to optometry school because you won't get to apply all that great training you get as you try to out-compete the 3 other ODs and 2 ophthalmologists down the road.

 

[IndianaOD]

Where was this announced?

Posted on ODwire but it will be in the latest "Review of Optometry"

This just in...Nevada is now exploring the idea as well. These are all private pharmacy and osteopathic schools looking for nothing more than tuition $$.

Personally I think it is unethical for the OD schools to take 4+ years of your life and $150,000 and dump you out into this mess.

 

[IndianaOD]

How many optometry schools total are there in the USA? and average class sizes?

http://www.opted.org/ has the info you seek.

3 years ago there were 17 schools. Now there are 20 and the amount of graduates have increased well over 10%. That is a huge increase! If these new schools get going it will jump to 22-23 schools increasing the graduation rate over 25%. Anyone that doesn't think that will cause a problem is nuts.

 

[DocJL]

Posted on ODwire but it will be in the latest "Review of Optometry"

This just in...Nevada is now exploring the idea as well. These are all private pharmacy and osteopathic schools looking for nothing more than tuition $$.

Personally I think it is unethical for the OD schools to take 4+ years of your life and $150,000 and dump you out into this mess.

Doc,

I bet it's the same school here in southern Nevada that is opening a private dental school this year. We already have a huge oversupply of dentists in Nevada, and our broke state is paying over 10 million dollars a year to fund UNLV Dental school to pump out another 80 unneeded new grads a year. in 4 years with the new private school there will be 160 unneeded new grads a year, most of them with debt approaching 300k.

To put it in perspective, California has about 50 million people, and has 5 dental schools, and they have an oversupply of dentists, one in every strip mall, new grads making only slightly more than a dental hygienist with 1/4 the education. Nevada has maybe 3 million people in the whole state, and we will have 2 dental schools. as you stated, the new school is for profit for tuition dollars only......

you must be in a smaller town or rural area if you couldn't get a dentist appt for 6 weeks. Even when we were slammed busy several years ago we would always try to get a new pt in within a couple of weeks, now we can always get somebody in same day or next day.

 

[blackhole2]

IndianaOD,

Could you please post the link in this forum? I'm not a member of ODwire.

 

[socal2014]

Could the oversupply be due to the government wanting to give less funding for health care, i.e. supply/demand?

In any case, I think OD's, amongst DDS's and PharmD's should fight for their profession. Where do all the membership dues go to each year? New leadership is necessary to keep optometry under control, because as it stands right now, the people in charge are miserably failing (i.e. new schools, deregulation etc etc)

 

[Healthnutty]

From my experience, whenever I make an appointment with a dentist, they can always see me next day or following day. I live downtown in a major city and called on a Friday for a limited exam and was able to be seen that Monday. At my appointment, they asked if I wanted to get a cleaning done that day. I also needed a root canal, so they offered to do it then, too. I went ahead and had the exam and root canal (RCT) all in the same day, and scheduled my cleaning for the following day.

To make a long story short...when they went in to do my RCT they ended up just cleaning it out and doing a crown. A couple weeks later I had pain, so they referred me out to an endodontist to finally get the RCT. That same day an endodontist was able to see me for my RCT. I ended up scheduling an RCT with another cheaper endodontist 2 wks out...I asked if I could be seen sooner, but they said he is on vacation for 2wks and I was seeing him the first day he returns. So...from my experience I have had no problem getting in to see the dentist or endodontist same day, next day, or one day out.

Just wanted to share....

 

[Healthnutty]

Doc,

I bet it's the same school here in southern Nevada that is opening a private dental school this year. We already have a huge oversupply of dentists in Nevada, and our broke state is paying over 10 million dollars a year to fund UNLV Dental school to pump out another 80 unneeded new grads a year. in 4 years with the new private school there will be 160 unneeded new grads a year, most of them with debt approaching 300k.

To put it in perspective, California has about 50 million people, and has 5 dental schools, and they have an oversupply of dentists, one in every strip mall, new grads making only slightly more than a dental hygienist with 1/4 the education. Nevada has maybe 3 million people in the whole state, and we will have 2 dental schools. as you stated, the new school is for profit for tuition dollars only......

you must be in a smaller town or rural area if you couldn't get a dentist appt for 6 weeks. Even when we were slammed busy several years ago we would always try to get a new pt in within a couple of weeks, now we can always get somebody in same day or next day.

Thanks for sharing your experience of the effects of oversupply as a dentist in your area.

 

[thecgrblue]

Wife works at a large dental practice. They're constantly getting 'talks' from the business manager on how to fill-up the empty slots. Everyday is generally booked from 9-12 and then the afternoons are spotty. The practice also offers free cleanings, exam, and xrays for new patients.

I have 3 buddies who are recent dental school graduates. 1 went into practice with his Dad (after he could't find anything else), one just got a job at the local prison, and the other does temp work all of the area b/c he can't track down a permanent spot yet.

If we want to talk about MD's....my PCP constantly tells me he is 'one lawsuit away from bankruptcy' and is probably going to sell his practice to the local hospital and just be an employee. A prominent hand surgeon in the area is a family friend and either is never home or falling asleep in his chair. A girl I dated in HS had an ER doc for a Dad, he was never home either and switched between night/day rotations every week. He loved his job, but was envious of some other lifestyles. He said, "Sure I make a good amount of money, but I never get to spend it." (He bought a sports car that next weekend, haha).

Yes...these are all negatives and obviously not the universal happenings, I am perfectly aware of all the pros for each profession. Just saying that Dental and Medical isn't all roses and puppies.

 

[JMU07]

Yeah.. one in my home state of Virginia (in the poorest county in the state, and one of the poorest in the country) and one in Massachusetts, I believe. I knew about the VA one but I learned about the second in Review of Optometry. Sigh.

 

[ABaverage]

If we want to talk about MD's....my PCP constantly tells me he is 'one lawsuit away from bankruptcy' and is probably going to sell his practice to the local hospital and just be an employee. A prominent hand surgeon in the area is a family friend and either is never home or falling asleep in his chair. A girl I dated in HS had an ER doc for a Dad, he was never home either and switched between night/day rotations every week. He loved his job, but was envious of some other lifestyles. He said, "Sure I make a good amount of money, but I never get to spend it." (He bought a sports car that next weekend, haha).

Yes...these are all negatives and obviously not the universal happenings, I am perfectly aware of all the pros for each profession. Just saying that Dental and Medical isn't all roses and puppies.

I thought that less and less MDs are going into family medicine because of the low pay. He is "one lawsuit away from bankruptcy" but I guess this is a different anxiety than having no job or patients to see in the first place. And I thought malpractice insurance pays for whatever cases we lose, anyway? Not sure.

I must add that I believe OD programs are still in the minority. Sure, we don't need as many ODs in the country, but there are tons more pharm, dental, PT, whatever programs out there. I checked out the vet forum and they're saying the same "oversupply problem" thing over there too. Maybe we are just insecure.

 

[thecgrblue]

I thought that less and less MDs are going into family medicine because of the low pay. He is "one lawsuit away from bankruptcy" but I guess this is a different anxiety than having no job or patients to see in the first place. And I thought malpractice insurance pays for whatever cases we lose, anyway? Not sure.

I must add that I believe OD programs are still in the minority. Sure, we don't need as many ODs in the country, but there are tons more pharm, dental, PT, whatever programs out there. I checked out the vet forum and they're saying the same "oversupply problem" thing over there too. Maybe we are just insecure.

Try this out...http://www.osnsupersite.com/view.aspx?rid=6690

Doctor gets sued for $15 million dollars, I'd like to see any policy cover all of that.

The twins were born preterm in December 1996 and subsequently developed ROP. According to Mr. Weber, contrary to the jury’s finding, both children became bilaterally blind due to management inconsistencies on the part of the parents who failed to take the children to follow-up visits.

(that's just so you don't miss the key part if you skim the article)

 

[ABaverage]

Try this out...http://www.osnsupersite.com/view.aspx?rid=6690

Doctor gets sued for $15 million dollars, I'd like to see any policy cover all of that.

The twins were born preterm in December 1996 and subsequently developed ROP. According to Mr. Weber, contrary to the jury’s finding, both children became bilaterally blind due to management inconsistencies on the part of the parents who failed to take the children to follow-up visits.

(that's just so you don't miss the key part if you skim the article)

WOW.... it sucks that people are looking for someone to blame for tragic events. And that someone just happens to be a doctor that was trying to help 😡. I find these cases interesting.

How can you avoid getting sued and losing like this?!

And I saw that it was getting appealed, is there any way we can see the result of that?

 

[blazenmadison]

Try this out...http://www.osnsupersite.com/view.aspx?rid=6690

Doctor gets sued for $15 million dollars, I'd like to see any policy cover all of that.

The twins were born preterm in December 1996 and subsequently developed ROP. According to Mr. Weber, contrary to the jury’s finding, both children became bilaterally blind due to management inconsistencies on the part of the parents who failed to take the children to follow-up visits.

(that's just so you don't miss the key part if you skim the article)

I'm pretty sure Texas is a state where the medical liability is capped at 2million. A jury can award 200million but the malpractice only needs to pay 2million. These malpractice caps have been increasing popular in many states.

 

[blazenmadison]

Yeah.. one in my home state of Virginia (in the poorest county in the state, and one of the poorest in the country) and one in Massachusetts, I believe. I knew about the VA one but I learned about the second in Review of Optometry. Sigh.

Interesting note about the school in VA. It was a 'loan' to start up the school. No state/federal grant money was given. I did some service work in that county of VA and no one will choose that school for their first choice. The roads are horrible...I almost fell off a cliff! The nearest regional airport is Roanoke (2 hours away!). How do you expect optometry students to tour/interview? Or maybe they will just be doing optometry school online... I hope they become the first example of a FAILED optometry school.

The new OD schools are already having difficulty filling their seats. I just feel sorry for those clueless students at those new OD schools signing the dotted line for 200k loans.

 

[MBAeyes]

It was recently announced that TWO MORE optometry schools are in the works! Absolute insanity. Optometry was already in an oversupply situation before 3 new schools opened up over the past 2-3 years. Now we have even more.

Optometrist incomes are flat or declining, new grads are having trouble finding good jobs, and professional satisfaction is on the decline. Students deserve better after 8+ years of education and multiple six-figure debt.🙁

I'm sorry to say that I do not recommend the profession.

This is garbage...If you look back 2 years you'll see IndianaOD with almost the same post. He/she's been "not recommending the profession" for years. Basically what he/she is trying to do is weed people out because he/she can't handle the competition.

This kind of talk is all throughout the Dental, Pharmacy, and Medical Formums. Its just a way to try and get you to not become an Optometrist and make more money than them. I very much believe that Optometry is the best field no matter how many new schools open and I'm not worried at all about my future as an Optometrist.

 

[DocJL]

This is garbage...If you look back 2 years you'll see IndianaOD with almost the same post. He/she's been "not recommending the profession" for years. Basically what he/she is trying to do is weed people out because he/she can't handle the competition.

This kind of talk is all throughout the Dental, Pharmacy, and Medical Formums. Its just a way to try and get you to not become an Optometrist and make more money than them. I very much believe that Optometry is the best field no matter how many new schools open and I'm not worried at all about my future as an Optometrist.

aaaahhhhhh, the blissful ignorance of youth........

 

[socal2014]

This is garbage...If you look back 2 years you'll see IndianaOD with almost the same post. He/she's been "not recommending the profession" for years. Basically what he/she is trying to do is weed people out because he/she can't handle the competition.

This kind of talk is all throughout the Dental, Pharmacy, and Medical Formums. Its just a way to try and get you to not become an Optometrist and make more money than them. I very much believe that Optometry is the best field no matter how many new schools open and I'm not worried at all about my future as an Optometrist.

How can you account for online glasses sales overtaking opticals/optometrists offices etc?
How can you account for low reimbursment vision plANS/NOT being able to get on medical plans?
How can you account for new schools opening up, when statistically there is already an oversupply?

I am surprised you are pro-optometry, when the general consensus in this thread, which I might add is backed up by believable evidence, is anti-optometry...how can you be so sure optometry is a good profession, when there are obvious road-blocks ahead and even so, right now.?

 

[ABaverage]

Reading the optometry form on SDN is quite discouraging for sure. Too late for me!

 

[Moptometry]

This type of discussion doesnt belong to pre-optometry forum. It belongs to the optometry one where real optometrist can discuss their issues and see what they can do about it.It is basically non of our (students) business that 2 more school are possibly opening, it should be your ( OD) concern. You pay god knows how much to your associations to protect your rights and etc. Go ask them what the heck they are doing for you.....they send you the bill, they gota work for it too. pre-optometry ppl go shadow optometrist to see what the real job is like. trust me If only 1 outa 54 hours that i shadow was spent on sitting around and doing nothing, i would not choose this as a career. ~300 million americans, maybe 40,000...50,000 Optometrists. you do the math, simple division ppl and i am assuming nobody is retiring which is complete BS but just for the sake of the argument. The whole point is, stop stressing and chill.
Thats all

 

[HunOpt]

First of all, of course people are going to open more schools. You know why? To make money! This is how it is in every profession, anywhere! Look at med schools in the Caribbean, overseas etc. The problem with today's society is that people think that the only "legit" health profession is becoming a "doctor" well let me tell you something, most of the wannabe doctors I know have no respect for people and are just in it for the money and will go through any means necessary to become a doctor and make the 6 figures. Optometry is just as good a profession as any other, my father is a damn painter and he has made a better living than most of you "doctors" will ever make. The point here is that any career path has flaws, but if you are not an ignorant fool and has SOME respect for other and knows how to establish him or herself you WILL be successful in life. People can say what they want but optometry is still a better career then getting a useless biology degree and wiping your ass with it, with diligence and perseverance you will go through life being an optometrist, even if the "doctors/dentists and/or dentist/doctor wannabes" disagree with me......Optometry is the ****, go against the profession in another forum will maybe some idiots will believe that you are just trying to make people choose another career path to protect you from "oversupply" concerns. Suck it, and Moptometry I completely agree, people do need to just chill! Thanks everyone for reading my "somewhat insightful/useless" piece of obvious advice, see you in optometry school next august!

 

[geronamo26]

Aren't all the medical professions going through the same doubts? Pharmacy is, Dentistry is...basically all the medical professions that PAY THE MOST(with respect to the orthopedics and the like which are hard to get into anyways as a medical student) are in oversupply. I wonder what optometry will be like in 10-15 years...wait, no I don't......I want to know, but I don't. I wish choosing a medical profession wasn't such a headache!

 

[IndianaOD]

You guys can live in denial. That is fine. These comments absolutely belong in the pre-optometry forum. It is too late for those already sucking down the loans.

The problems aren't new to optometry, I just came back on here a little bit because it is getting much worse instead of better.

I am a private practice optometrist out in the trenches. The doctors and professors at the schools are clueless about the real world. If you are shadowing a successful older OD as your only experience you are not getting the full picture. Many older ODs built their great practices during much better times for optometry.

Once you guys graduate, send me some Private Messages on here 1 to 2 years out and let me know what you find.

 

[geronamo26]

well does anyone know what medical careers dont have oversupply problems? Im starting to doubt optometry...maybe I should stick with nursing or physical therapy....professions that will always be needed....everyone will get hurt, everyone will need nurses...

 

[optsuker]

Reading the optometry form on SDN is quite discouraging for sure. Too late for me!

Not yet!
Things will be tough, but if you bust your hump, there's still opportunities for the next few years. What you will have to contend with is 10 new grads wanting the job you've been holding for a few years.

Start networking as a 3rd/4th year & try to already be an owner/partner when the storm hits.

 

[optsuker]

This type of discussion doesnt belong to pre-optometry forum. It belongs to the optometry one where real optometrist can discuss their issues and see what they can do about it..... The whole point is, stop stressing and chill. Thats all

It's going to take an effort on all our parts to keep the profession strong.
OD's are handcuffed because a group effort can be seen as collusion. One thing I've heard rumblings of is that the accreditation body (controlled by OD's) will get much more rigorous and several of the new schools won't be accredited & it's grads won't be able to practice. Poor scores, profs w/o advanced degrees, and weak clinical experiences may turn a 4 year program into 5 (or worse).

Pre-Opts: Be absolutely certain that this is the field you want to be in. Are you willing to do it for lower pay than today's rates?
But the biggest thing you can do is not to apply to the new schools (Western, Incarnate Word, Midwestern, & those that follow) if you're a good student. They will be weaker clinically and even if you do well personally, a poor average performance on boards may prevent you from being licensed to practice.

 

[thecgrblue]

It's going to take an effort on all our parts to keep the profession strong.
OD's are handcuffed because a group effort can be seen as collusion. One thing I've heard rumblings of is that the accreditation body (controlled by OD's) will get much more rigorous and several of the new schools won't ber accredited & it's grads won't be able to practice. Poor scores, profs w/o advanced degrees, and weak clinical experiences may turn a 4 year program into 5 (or worse).

Pre-Opts: Be absolutely certain that this is the field you want to be in. Are you willing to do it for lower pay than today's rates?
But the biggest thing you can do is not to apply to the new schools (Western, Incarnate Word, Midwestern, & those that follow) if you're a good student. They will be weaker clinically and even if you do well personally, a poor average performance on boards may prevent you from being licensed to practice.

Where can I sign up to help make this happen? 😀

 

[naus]

Aren't all the medical professions going through the same doubts? Pharmacy is, Dentistry is...basically all the medical professions that PAY THE MOST(with respect to the orthopedics and the like which are hard to get into anyways as a medical student) are in oversupply. I wonder what optometry will be like in 10-15 years...wait, no I don't......I want to know, but I don't. I wish choosing a medical profession wasn't such a headache!

There's a world of difference between the doubt of a stressed out medical student or resident and one who is staring at the prospect of unemployment.

 

[socal2014]

It's going to take an effort on all our parts to keep the profession strong.
OD's are handcuffed because a group effort can be seen as collusion. One thing I've heard rumblings of is that the accreditation body (controlled by OD's) will get much more rigorous and several of the new schools won't ber accredited & it's grads won't be able to practice. Poor scores, profs w/o advanced degrees, and weak clinical experiences may turn a 4 year program into 5 (or worse).

Pre-Opts: Be absolutely certain that this is the field you want to be in. Are you willing to do it for lower pay than today's rates?
But the biggest thing you can do is not to apply to the new schools (Western, Incarnate Word, Midwestern, & those that follow) if you're a good student. They will be weaker clinically and even if you do well personally, a poor average performance on boards may prevent you from being licensed to practice.

Actually, some people apply to these new schools because it's cheaper/closer to family, which doesnt make the applicant any weaker than the others who apply to the older schools.

Can the students not sue the respective optometry school, for taking money + time from them in return for nothing basically?

 

[optsuker]

Actually, some people apply to these new schools because it's cheaper/closer to family, which doesnt make the applicant any weaker than the others who apply to the older schools.

Rare exception, it's a fall-back option for poor applicants. Weaker GPA & OAT averages don't lie.

Can the students not sue the respective optometry school, for taking money + time from them in return for nothing basically?

Doubtful. You knew going in that it was an unaccredited program. The schools just conveniently glaze over that fact & what it could mean.

 

[iiii]

It's going to take an effort on all our parts to keep the profession strong.
OD's are handcuffed because a group effort can be seen as collusion. One thing I've heard rumblings of is that the accreditation body (controlled by OD's) will get much more rigorous and several of the new schools won't be accredited & it's grads won't be able to practice. Poor scores, profs w/o advanced degrees, and weak clinical experiences may turn a 4 year program into 5 (or worse).

Pre-Opts: Be absolutely certain that this is the field you want to be in. Are you willing to do it for lower pay than today's rates?
But the biggest thing you can do is not to apply to the new schools (Western, Incarnate Word, Midwestern, & those that follow) if you're a good student. They will be weaker clinically and even if you do well personally, a poor average performance on boards may prevent you from being licensed to practice.

One of my profs said something like this too.
That new schools have too few OD's with PhD's, ME's as profs. Also that it takes a long time to set up good 4th year rotations & they might not grant accreditation until it gets improved. You could graduate and then have to wait 1-2 years to get licensed since most states mandate you graduate from an accredited school of optometry.

 

[thecgrblue]

Actually, some people apply to these new schools because it's cheaper/closer to family, which doesnt make the applicant any weaker than the others who apply to the older schools.

Can the students not sue the respective optometry school, for taking money + time from them in return for nothing basically?

TOTALLY not cheaper enough to justify attending. Tuition is identical to other schools. Please show me some students that turned down an established school they were accepted into for a newer one. I sure wasn't one.

Sue....?!? This is America, you'd get your money back in 30 years.

 

[JMU07]

Interesting note about the school in VA. It was a 'loan' to start up the school. No state/federal grant money was given. I did some service work in that county of VA and no one will choose that school for their first choice. The roads are horrible...I almost fell off a cliff! The nearest regional airport is Roanoke (2 hours away!). How do you expect optometry students to tour/interview? Or maybe they will just be doing optometry school online... I hope they become the first example of a FAILED optometry school.

The new OD schools are already having difficulty filling their seats. I just feel sorry for those clueless students at those new OD schools signing the dotted line for 200k loans.

I thought about that too. It's literally the middle of nowhere. It's going to be tough for students to tour and visit. They already have a law school and a pharmacy school, neither of which I've ever heard of, so I'm betting that those are not exactly anyone's top choices either. Stupid.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Hey IndianaOD...on average how many px's do you see a day? I work at an office now in a rural town in Canada and the OD I work for seems to be doing pretty well for themselves. She sees 18-22 px's a day and around 13 on her "half" day. There are also certain time slots during the day that are completely booked until July. This is with another optometry office down the road and several in neighbouring towns. I dont see her office slowly down anytime soon, in fact we see about 3-6 new pxs a day. Obviously this isnt the case for every OD in private practice but im sure there are other opportunities like this out there. What are your thoughts?

 

[socal2014]

Hey IndianaOD...on average how many px's do you see a day? I work at an office now in a rural town in Canada and the OD I work for seems to be doing pretty well for themselves. She sees 18-22 px's a day and around 13 on her "half" day. There are also certain time slots during the day that are completely booked until July. This is with another optometry office down the road and several in neighbouring towns. I dont see her office slowly down anytime soon, in fact we see about 3-6 new pxs a day. Obviously this isnt the case for every OD in private practice but im sure there are other opportunities like this out there. What are your thoughts?

rural location.

it would be much harder to see that many pxs in a city....usually its 15pxs on a good day, and around 8 on a slow day.

 

[IndianaOD]

Hey IndianaOD...on average how many px's do you see a day? I work at an office now in a rural town in Canada and the OD I work for seems to be doing pretty well for themselves. She sees 18-22 px's a day and around 13 on her "half" day. There are also certain time slots during the day that are completely booked until July. This is with another optometry office down the road and several in neighbouring towns. I dont see her office slowly down anytime soon, in fact we see about 3-6 new pxs a day. Obviously this isnt the case for every OD in private practice but im sure there are other opportunities like this out there. What are your thoughts?

You CANNOT compare Canada to the USA! Canada does not have the oversupply with its two OD schools. The competitiveness of the Canadian OD schools is through the roof. I know the one school's entering GPAs can embarrass about any medical or dental school.

I probably average about 12 full exams per day with a few follow ups in between. I bet that is pretty average or even above average in some areas. One of my contact lens reps said that our practice was the highest in contact lens volume (considering all brands) than any other in the county.

Ok, I will give you guys an example of what can happen. Before last year the factory across the road from us which employs 600 people had a self funded vision plan that paid $100 for and exam and allowed us full profit on materials. Starting this year they have EyeMed that pays us $55 for an exam and takes about half the profit out of the glasses and contact lenses. There are ODs in town that take even far worse vision plans just to get people in the door. This slowly allows all the major employers to choose cheaper vision plans that pay pennies on the dollar.

If there wasn't oversupply would ODs be taking these embarrassing payments? Hell no they wouldn't. I don't even feel our town is more oversupplied than average.

 

[socal2014]

Well, Canaada does have some oversupply. And optometry is completely de-regulated in B.C....I don't understand why ODs shell out a couple grand to their associations, if they cant even keep optometry regulated.


I was looking at provincial reports where they list new ODs practicing the province.

Usually, before you would see the average 3-5 new ODs migrating to Canada, or students who left canada to attend school in the states and are now returning. However, with the opening of more schools in the states that number has skyrocketed up to 30-40...aswell, waterloo increased their class size, and a big contributor to this raise might as well be the IOBP program that pumps out ~90 incompetent ODs per year. Just a litlle thought...the grass is not always greener on the other side.