The question of demand is in much debate on message boards such as seniordoc. The consensus seems to be that there are already too many ODs. As Jenny says, many doctors in rural areas practice at multiple locations to make a living. In addition, many doctors in urban areas bounce around between several commercial locations. I did this, in fact, and I still didn't make very much money.
The problem with old ODs is that they DON'T retire. Optometry is a very easy job to practice part-time. Most old ODs slowly run their practices into the ground, working progressively fewer days and not buying any new equipment. Then, when they go to retire, their practices aren't worth buying. This makes it difficult for a young OD to get started.
In addition, there are plans to open two new Optometry Schools, although the one in N. Carolina appears stalled. This would make the oversupply problem worse.
Now, given this oversupply, I think the jobs will still be out there. But they will be Wal-Mart jobs that don't pay as well and are fought over by more and more people with larger and larger loans. If you have a special skill (contact lenses, ocular disease, vision therapy) or you are willing to work your butt off, you will still do well in the field. If you're expecting a big salary and a dream job in your own private practice, you need to re-evaluate your goals.
As for family members, it's a lot easier to buy into a private practice if your mom or dad is selling it to you. Also, the parents of today's students built up there successful practices back in the day when you could get rich quick by selling 2 contact lenses for $400 and there wasn't any Wal-Mart to compete with. So unless mom is willing to give you a chunk of the business, don't rely on the number legacies in your class as a measure of the health of the profession.
I'm not telling anyone to drop out of school, but I'd like people to be aware of the issues.
Tom Stickel
Indiana U. 2001