I also heard from the optometrist that I'm working with that the word "specialty" cannot be used in any advertisement for an optometrist clinic. He says this is stated in the law. So technically, you can't get more patients through having a specialty since it will not even be acknowledged anywhere. But like KHE said, you can, however, have a better patient retention rate. I think you should do a residency if you like a certain topic. It seems to me that you would probably be disappointed if you are only doing one just for the money.
After reading the above posts, I have a few questions I was hoping that maybe one of you can help answer.
1. What is the advantage of doing a residency in ocular diseases, since an OMDs' work seems to be more related to treating ocular diseases. What does the ocular disease residency train you to do? Do you see 2000+ patients and get trained on diagnosing ocular diseases? Or do you actually treat certain diseases?
2. I have heard that vision therapy has a bad rep. Most students who initially thinking that they want to go into vision therapy, back out after doing some of these b/c they think it is not really optometry, even a high school graduate with good skills with kids can do it. Is this true? I know as a kid, I had to get vision therapy and it helped me a lot. How has the vision therapy field advanced in the last 10 years or so?
3. If I want to find out what % of optometrists did their residency in a certain specialty, where would I go to? Is this information even being collected and released?
Thanks!
I'll try to answer some of your questions.
First of all let me address the "specialist" issue. In Texas, Optometrists become
Optometric Glaucoma Specialists after completing an "extra" 8 hours of glaucoma education. This material was covered in Optometry school, but our association agreed to a compromise to make everyone happy. We can advertise as "specialists" after this extra education. Now to your questions.
#1 - The reason for doing an ocular disease residency is to learn how to recognize and manage ocular pathologies. These residencies are usually based in a hospital, so you are overwhelmed with sick eyes. These docs
do treat sick eyes. We are fortunate enough, in some states, to manage and treat ocular pathologies just like OMD's. This includes everything short of surgery. Of course there is the old "pucker" factor that OMD's even have to deal with.
An OMD colleague of mine refers almost as much as I do. Of course these are retinal problems or acute problems that need emergent surgery and long term follow up (He is based in a small town). OMD's do not always hire Optometrists with ocular disease residencies. I have a good friend who did not do a residency and he works for an OMD, managing and treating pathologies.
#2 - Vision therapy is the stepchild of Optometry, these days. It is a highly specialized part that is neglected. It is very difficult to start a vision therapy practice. It can be done, but lots of marketing and palm pressing must take place to recognize yourself as a vision therapy specialist. Some insurances reimburse for this, but some do not. Makes life even more difficult. I like pathology, so I have neglected vision therapy, as well. Most of the vision therapy Optometrists I know are in an academic setting. Vision therapy has advanced tremendously in the past 10 years, mostly because of computer involvement. Kids enjoy working with a computer more than simple little cards and strings.
#3 - I don't know a source for the % of Optometrists doing residencies. I really don't think this is relevent, as your decision will be based on your preference.
Let me give you a little background on my situation. I did not do a residency. I was too old when I got out of Optometry school and opted for the money route. I did however do a "self-induced" residency. I worked in many different Optometric modes - private practice, corporate, OMD employee, and nursing homes. I saw 3 -4000 patients in one year (worked 7 days a week) and learned how Optometry was in the "real" world. I learned volumes about pathology, practice management and patient relations. These things were very valuable when I made the decision to buy a practice and strike out on my own.
Did not doing a residency hurt me? I don't think so, but I feel residencies are valuable tools for Optometrists....especially in this day and age. I only had one Optometrist refuse to hire me because I did not do a residency. He believed that an ocular disease residency was necessary in his practice, since it is an hour removed from a major city.
Hopefully this has answered your questions.
Good luck.