For Current/Former ODs who *HATE* Optometry

[jlaha]

Hello.

I've been browsing the SDN forums for quite sometime. I mainly follow the Optometry forum and Dental forum. I am trying to decide which field I want to have a career in and have found SDN to be a great resource for information for both professions. I've read a lot of the old and new posts and throughout my reading, I have come upon a handful of posts from those bitter about the profession of Optometry. Most of these posters, if not all of them, are optometrists themselves. You've all seen them and they know who they are. I've read their posts to try to understand their viewpoints, but I believe we need more information to understand their position of why they regret going into the field. Therefore, I have devised a set of questions which I strongly think will allow us to better understand their positions. Maybe there's a trend.

So please, if you're one of the "haters," please reply to the following questionnaire using the format provided:

1. Current Age, Gender, Ethnicity/Race, Location

2. Optometry School and Graduation Year

3. Total Debt Incurred (tuition, living expenses, etc.)

4. Position: Employed? Own private practice (opened cold or bought)? Partnership?

5. Salary / Net Income

6. Why did you originally choose optometry as a career?

7. What didn't you know about the profession before or during optometry school that you now know (ie, learned the "hard way")?

8. WHY ARE YOU BITTER ABOUT THE PROFESSION and *WHAT* made you realize you hated the profession? BE SPECIFIC... INCOME? NATURE OF THE WORK? ETC...

9. What have you done to try to fix your problem? Did you relocate to get another job? Did you decide to open your own practice? Did you dump optometry and start a new career?

10. Anything else you want to say... let it out!


For the non-haters, please feel free to add to this discussion. I really want to hear what you guys have to say. As for myself, I am thinking about a career in optometry. I've shadowed a few optometrists myself and I really enjoy the nature of the work and interaction with the patients. I like the aspect of problem solving and discovery in the profession. If I decide to become an optometrist, I would want to have my own private practice one day. I am the type that is willing to relocate in order to achieve my goals... I'm getting sick of living in Los Angeles and dealing with the f-ing traffic anyway. 😡 Plus, LA is saturated with optometrists, dentists, etc., so if one wanted to start a practice cold in the first place, it would be very difficult. And the job market and pay for optometrists in LA is pretty low compared with tons of other cities in the US. So why stay here when there are many other rapidly growing cities in need of professionals?

My sister is a recent graduate from SCCO. She loves the profession and is a great people person, which I think is very important in order to being successful in the field. She is currently employed in Los Angeles, but works part time at two different practices. She (a) makes a decent income for a fresh graduate, (b) loves what she does, (c) has found 2 jobs (although part time which have the potential to become full time positions unless she buys into another practice) in Los Angeles, a city saturated with optometrists.

My point is, if a fresh and pretty much average graduate like her has accomplished the aforementioned goals, why are there people out there who are bitter?

Maybe I'm missing something from this picture.

And one more thing... one of the optometrists I shadowed, who loves his job and even works one day a week (for $20/hour) outside his very successful and busy practice, mentioned a report written in the 1930s called "The Creeping Death." I looked it up on google.com and only found one relevant link which mentioned the following (couldn't find the actual report):

Professional morale had reached a serious low that year. Optometrists were worried about the probability of socialized health care and ?quickie? eye examinations for low fees were popping up all over the nation. Then, at the Heart of America Congress in November, AOA President James Wahl delivered his gloomy ?Creeping Death? address, indicating the profession could not long endure without drastic change. To compound the problem, there was much concern over a new organization; the Association of Missouri Optometrists, whose members were described as ?tradesmen?.

http://www.moeyecare.org/MOA_History/History_Part3of5.htm
(if anyone can find the report, please share it with us!)

The optometrist I shadowed went on to say that this report basically talked about the demise of optometry (in the 1930s) and that he believed if anyone were to read it today, it would sound like it was written last year. His point was all these viewpoints about how optometry is a dying field, a futureless field, etc., is garbage. People have been saying that for years, and you know what... optometry has only become better.

Anyway, please respond!

Jonathan

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[simplyanny]

yes, I'd really love to know too!
thanks jlaha for expressing one of my questions so well!

please help please help

 

[Richard_Hom]

1. Current Age, Gender, Ethnicity/Race, Location

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp>50, Male, Asian, SFBay Area

2. Optometry School and Graduation Year

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspUC Berkeley, 1975

3. Total Debt Incurred (tuition, living expenses, etc.)

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Less than $10,000. Worked throughout optometry school and throughout the summer as a postal clerk for the University, a clerk typist in either the day or evening shifts.

4. Position: Employed? Own private practice (opened cold or bought)? Partnership?

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspWent into the US Army for 2 years to travel. I "volunteered" for service and did not have a Army scholarship. Went into half time commercial practice and half time "cold turkey". I opened up a branch office when I left the commercial practice. Closed both practices to move to the SF Bay Area to work half time with an HMO and half time in a "opened cold" private practice sharing overhead with another OD. Concentrated only in contact lenses in my private practice.

5. Salary / Net Income

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Comfortable net income above $100k from my private practice.

6. Why did you originally choose optometry as a career?

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspCombined Pharmacy PhD program was my initial and Optometry was my backup. I went to pharmacy school for a week and I didn't like it and went to UC Berkeley instead.

7. What didn't you know about the profession before or during optometry school that you now know (ie, learned the "hard way")?

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspLack of geographic mobility. Everything else was pretty much ok with me.

8. WHY ARE YOU BITTER ABOUT THE PROFESSION and *WHAT* made you realize you hated the profession? BE SPECIFIC... INCOME? NATURE OF THE WORK? ETC...

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspI've been happy with my profession and particularly like the expanded scope of optometry. I emphasized contact lenses early on and the challenges and rewards there helped keep me interested throughout my career. In fact the pace of optometry allowed me to ski and play tennis practically 1-3 hours in the morning or evening while I was starting out. Now I can appreciate it's pace to be close to my family.

9. What have you done to try to fix your problem? Did you relocate to get another job? Did you decide to open your own practice? Did you dump optometry and start a new career?

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspI've been an instructor and speaker at various optometry colleges but my message has been lost on them. I've had a midlife crisis and left to work in the computer industry for a few years and liked it a lot. But the pace of business was wearing me thin. I'm glad to be back in optometry.


10. Anything else you want to say... let it out!

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspI think it's a shame that some people lament their fate and try to do nothing about it themselves. When faced with these circumstances, I sought professional, peer and family advice. Even as I worked in all of the scenarios (for a commercial practice as a lease holder, for other optometrists, for ophthalmologists, for an HMO, for the military) I focused on what I could learn in the situation and continually sought and constructed an exit strategy should one be needed (most of the time it was needed).

I say "stop the bellyaching" and get on with life. It's OK to ask for advice but don't shoot the messenger just because you're depressed about your plight. Then I think its time for anger management and some drugs (e.g. Prozac, etc.)

I know it isn't easy. As a "minority" it hasn't been easy. But you can sit there and feel the effect or do something about it.

Regards,
Richard Hom, OD,FAAO
San Mateo, CA

 

[simplyanny]

Originally posted by Richard_Hom
Regards,
Richard Hom, OD,FAAO
San Mateo, CA [/B]

Thank you Dr. Hom for your kind reply and info.
As an Asian myself, I am also curious to know how the race status affects you in working, if any. I have heard that people sometimes choose doctors by their last names (but I don't know if this is true).

I apologize in advance if this offends anyone. I am just wanting to know about the real life situation out there.

 

[J.opt]

Thanks for your imput Dr. Hom. What was the message that was lost on the Optometry schools?

By the way, I would like to see ?Reality Check? answer these questions. For some reason he always has avoided questioning.

 

[Richard_Hom]

I think I might have been misunderstood about the messenger. My analogy about the messenger was intended to counter those who "hate" optometry. If the messenger was to bring a view point that contradicts them, they'll be angry at the "messenger" or the one who brought the subject forth.

Regards,
Richard

Originally posted by J.opt
Thanks for your imput Dr. Hom. What was the message that was lost on the Optometry schools?

 

[Richard_Hom]

Dear simplyanny,

The racism I would first refer to is what exists amongst the faculty of most optometry schools. If you look at the makeup of the graduating classes of recent memory, you will notice that the clinical faculty doesn't match any where close to this proportion. Therefore, where are the Asian models for optometry students? For the most part, the clinical education is shaped by a Euro-centric image of what an optometrist should be or should act.

I fear that racism is also present in the deprecating comments of other professionals including opthalmologists. So the disdain from other professionals may not be profession-based but race-based.

Just a generalization, though. I do feel that little cracks are occurring where appropriate role models are available. But they aren't too prevalent.

Richard Hom, OD,FAAO
San Mate, CA

Originally posted by simplyanny
Thank you Dr. Hom for your kind reply and info.
As an Asian myself, I am also curious to know how the race status affects you in working, if any. I have heard that people sometimes choose doctors by their last names (but I don't know if this is true).

I apologize in advance if this offends anyone. I am just wanting to know about the real life situation out there.

 

[simplyanny]

Originally posted by J.opt
Thanks for your imput Dr. Hom. What was the message that was lost on the Optometry schools?

By the way, I would like to see ?Reality Check?answer these questions. For some reason he always has avoided questioning.

Yes, dear Reality Check, can we humbly ask for your opinion on optometry so we have 2 sides of the view? it will be really helpful for perspective op students.

and for J.opt, I had viewed previous msgs on your being interested in UHCO? How's your plan now? When are you entering op school?

ya'll have a great week.

 

[J.opt]

Hi simplyanny, I?m going to enter optometry school in 2005, but I?m still undecided about which schools I?m going to apply to. So far I?m interested in UHCO, SCO, and maybe OSU. I?ve been trying to gather some information about these schools all summer long, but I always forget to. I used to think that the school in St. Louis was very expensive, but I just got and information package from them and it really isn?t that bad. I have to watch out for the schools? tuition costs because I?m going to have to pay out of state tuition wherever I decide to go to. (I still have to call OSU to check if their out of state tuition deal will work for me).

I?m going to make a decision soon, and maybe visit some of the schools. I had planned to visit Houston and Memphis in May, but it didn?t work out.

How about you? Is UHCO the only school you are planning to apply to? I?ve noticed that the majority of the students at UHCO are from Texas, I think that they intentionally admit as many regional students as possible.

 

[Caffeinated]

jlaha and others,

I will try to give you some information from my perspective, but I am not sure if you will be able to fully grasp what I say. I can tell that you are young, and (no offense intended) a little naive about how the health care world works. I will answer some of your questions, but some of them are not germaine to your initial question, so I will skip those.

When one considers a career in any health related field, the question "why not medicine?" always arises. Even in optometry school interviews, this question will likely come up nearly every time. So if you are serious about optometry, you should have a good answer for this--both for the committee and for yourself.

You must keep in mind as you look at the profession of optometry that many of us tend to become dogmatic about who we are and where the profession is going. Many ODs can recite the AOA definition of an optometrist by heart. Many ODs remain excited about their work throughout most of their careers, and this is not a bad thing. However, as a young, naive, skull full of mush (again, no offense intended), you need to peel away some of the dogma and evaluate the profession as it is right now, raw and uncensored, with no sugar coating. If, after this evaluation, it suits you, then jump in with both feet and enjoy the ride. If you have some apprehension, then search your soul and do this same analysis on other professions.

So what is it about optometry that makes it attractive? Well, it makes you a doctor in 4 years, with no need for residency training, the work is conducive to a normal schedule and weekends at home with moderately comfortable compensation. However, here is where the hang-ups start for some folks. Yes, you are a doctor, but no matter how you slice it, you are not a physician. (I know that some states grant "optometric physician" status to ODs, but I think this title is misleading. "Doctor" is a generic term that includes lots of folks--optometrists, dentists, podiatrists, vets, and physicians. "Optometric physician" is a euphemism that ultimately amounts to nothing more than puffery and confuses the public.) So you are not a physician, big deal. You can still help a lot of people who need primary eye care, and this can be a lot of fun and very rewarding. However, at some point, some of us get tired of having to lose patients right at the point when you want to be most involved--because their needs are outside your scope of practice. So what can you do? Expand your knowledge base and push for wider scope? Sure, you may get it, but at what cost? It may take years, and at what point does the relationship with ophthalmology get too strained? Think about chalazion removals/injections: how long would it take for this to become a standard part of the optometric repertoire? Five years from now? Ten? Never? Consider the fact that ophthalmologists learn this procedure as a very junior resident. What do they have that optometrists don't have? As a junior resident, it certainly isn't a more thorough knowledge of the eye. But they do have a more comprehensive medical background, a surgical background, and most likely, this isn't the first time they have touched a scalpel. But don't damn the ophthalmologists and write them off--optometrists will always need them. Always. Because no matter how much the scope expands, when it gets too deep, you will need an ophtho to take over, whether it's scope of practice, comfort factor, or medico-legal. Sometimes this referral occurs in a friendly, comanagement atmosphere where the OD remains part of the team. Other times you never see the patient again. You have to be prepared to deal with that. Sometimes you can control the situation, other times you cannot.

So do these things make optometry bad? No. Some people like the fact that they are not at the top of the referral chain--not everyone wants that stress. However, some people grow and their goals change. Inevitably, some of us who thought we would be satisfied as optometrists have goals that evolve as we proceed through our education (again, this is not meant as an insult to those who remain excited about optometry). We also start to realize that "primary eye care" means mostly optical with some disease mixed in (more or less depending on where you practice) with lots of referring, and that we would really like to practice lots of ocular disease management with some optical care also. Without the general medical background and surgical background, the optometrist can only do so much ocular disease management. Is the solution to add more medical and surgical aspects to the optometric education and ultimately to the scope to satisfy everyone? I doubt it.

Ultimately, you have to realize that optometry is always in an identity crisis. There is the "junior ophthalmology" crowd and the purely optical crowd, and an entire spectrum in between. There is also the private v. commercial debate.

I have said it before, and it is worth repeating: optometry is not a bad career and I don't hate it or hate optometrists. I have a very big place carved out in my heart for my school, my colleagues, and my mentors. And they will remain in my heart as I proceed through my medical education and my career. You can't polarize the issue by throwing out words like "optometry haters" and then asking us what makes us tick.

So here are the answers I promised you:
6. Why did you originally choose optometry as a career?

I was a physics major, I liked optics, and I liked the idea of using my physics background in a health related field.

7. What didn't you know about the profession before or during optometry school that you now know (ie, learned the "hard way")?

See above.

8. WHY ARE YOU BITTER ABOUT THE PROFESSION and *WHAT* made you realize you hated the profession? BE SPECIFIC... INCOME? NATURE OF THE WORK? ETC...

Again, these words like "bitter" and "hate" are charged with negativity, and very polarizing. Read my statements above.

9. What have you done to try to fix your problem? Did you relocate to get another job? Did you decide to open your own practice? Did you dump optometry and start a new career?

I am starting med school next week. I may do ultimately pursue ophthalmology, but I want to try it all in my clinical rotations--maybe there is something else out there for me that I will like even more.

10. Anything else you want to say... let it out!
As the Army used to say, Be All You Can Be. If you want to be an optometrist, then be the best one you can. Don't be a just a refraction mill. Be a primary care eye doctor. Dilate all your patients. Take blood pressure on all your patients. Extract all of you can out of your optometry education, and do some learning on your own. Learn to take a good history. Take every opportunity to learn something, and share it with your colleagues if they want to hear it (both as a student and beyond). Don't expect to be spoon-fed everything. Don't believe every patient's story, but don't be a cynic. If they say they sleep in their contact lenses once in a while, ask how many nights per week--you might be shocked. Make sure patients tell you how often they replace their contacts--don't accept "they are 2 week disposables" as a sufficient answer; follow that with "how often do YOU replace them?" Sometimes patients need to cry--let them, and don't worry about the ones that have to wait while you take care of this patient. And when they cry, don't be afraid to touch them. A gentle pat on their arm will make you human, and make them a patient for life. Always make eye contact. Call your pediatric patients "sir" and "maam."

But if you decide that optometry might not satisfy your professional goals in the long run, then be honest with yourself right now. And you won't have to end up a 30 year old med student like me.

I wish you all the best, and I am happy to answer any questions on the forum or by PM.

 

[simplyanny]

Originally posted by J.opt
How about you? Is UHCO the only school you are planning to apply to? I?ve noticed that the majority of the students at UHCO are from Texas, I think that they intentionally admit as many regional students as possible. [/B]

Hi, J.opt,
Sorry for the late reply. I was caught up in finishing my summer school for the past week, but here i'm again, FREE AT LAST!!
I'm a student at the University of Texas at Austin, plan to enter optometry school 2006. UHCO is definitely my first choice since it's in-state and a pretty high board pass rate. I love the big Texas and would love to stay here close to home and my loved ones. Looking at other people's reply on how many schools they apply, though, I may need to also apply to 1 or 2 other schools as well. Some research is still needed to be done on that. Most Texas students apply to UHCO because yes, UHCO tends to have more openings for in-state students. I guess we are lucky that we're in a state with an optometry school. Sometimes it is funny to think about the number of diff prof schools, 7 for med, 3 for dental, and 1 for op, there is a trend there!
good luck on your school researching and school visiting, let me know if you've made a decision, and I'll most likely see you around here in the forum!

 

[J.opt]

Originally posted by simplyanny
let me know if you've made a decision

Sure 😉

 

[Simisn]

Hey J.Opt I'm applying for the class of 2005 too🙂

 

[Reality check]

Greetings Simplyanny and Jopt.
My colleague caffeinated expressed everything I wanted to tell you all and more. I could not have done a better job in what was said by caffeinated.
I am 35 years old. Graduated from a Northeast Optometry school in 1993 right after undergrad. in 1989. I work in corporate offices/retail at the moment. I have however worked in private practices and with ophthalmologists in clinics. I make over $100,000 gross a year(before taxes). I can assure you it is not the money or lack of it if you are not satisfied with that amount that makes me unhappy with the profession. As caffeinated stated our profession is in an identity crissis. You have the junior ophth crowd who practice thinking they are MD's and the optical crowd. Optometric state laws vary from one region of the country to the next. Not good. No uniformity.
I realized as wonderful as this profession is after 8 yrs of practicing it I wanted more out of it. I admire caffeinated for the motivation and desire to entire med school after becoming an OD. I wish I had the drive and "fuel" to start my journey an becoming an MD but I don't have it in me. Applying, getting in and the long journey ahead me at 35 I decided is not worth it for me now. I can't see myself in my early to mid forty's going thru rigorous and grueling intern/residency training. Furthermore there is no guarantee that I will become an ophthalmologist. I really don't care about the other specialties in medicine.
Optometry is not a bad profession. I've said this numerous times in many other posts- it's how high you want to go and achieve in life. Challenge yourself more and aim higher in life than just becoming an OD. There is A LIMIT ON WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO WITH OPTOMETRY.
You'll always be in the shadow of ophthalmology- respect etc....Sure you can call yourself an eye doctor but know the true eye doctors are and always will be ophthalomologists. Eye physicians and surgeons- total medical-surgical and optical care.
When I graduated from undergrad in 1989 if I knew about the internal turnmoil that exists among our profession I would not have applied to optometry school. You are kidding yourself for those who call themselve "optometric physicians." This is a cry for HELP! You get my drift.
Caffeinated said it best make sure this is what you want because your goals do/can change later on in life. As I realized a few years ago with myself. No matter how excellent of an optometrist you might become - you'll always be an optometrist. The sentimental feeling of the public has and always be to a majority you sell glasses- less than an MD. You'll never change public perception.
Best of luck to all you pre-optometry students out there.
If I could turn back timewhen I was 25 years old I would have applied to med school but I don't know if my 3.28 GPA would have gotten me any acceptances pending MCAT results.
Too late now..................
Sayonara,
RC

 

[Reality check]

Meant to say if I could turn back time when I was 21 years old not 25 . typo error

 

[Richard_Hom]

Reality Check,

1. Your posting is most cogent and relevant and hits upon the issue of personal satisfaction. Do one get satisfaction and esteem from other people or from the worthiness and relevance of their work?
2. I hypothesize that different people are directed to situations that shape their esteem and that people who require confirmation from others will never see optometry as their goal in life.
3. Alternatively, those individuals who find relevance and satisfaction with type of work will have a different level of esteem.
4. As aptly said by you and Caffeinated, circumstances that were laid down far ago by either the absence or presence of role models, the emphasis of education by the family, etc, are the parameters which directs individuals to choose their profession. Unfortunately, these early circumstances cannot be changed but can be leveraged for our future.
5. I also believe that our life expectancy is such that we must plan for at least 2 careers in our lives. Plan well.[/list=1]
   Regards,
   Richard Hom, OD,FAAO
   San Mateo, CA

 

[Caffeinated]

Originally posted by Richard_Hom
Reality Check,

[*]I hypothesize that different people are directed to situations that shape their esteem and that people who require confirmation from others will never see optometry as their goal in life.
[*]Alternatively, those individuals who find relevance and satisfaction with type of work will have a different level of esteem.

Richard,

It seems as though you are implying that those not satisified with the limitations of optometry are somehow inferior in that their happiness is limited to the validation they receive from patients or the public-at-large. You also seem to imply in your second point that those who are satisfied are free from such inhibitions. (Either that, or my inferences are way off.) I don't think it's that simple that you can disconnect the issues of one' s own personal satisfaction with the public's perception. You can't deny the fact that some people are hard-wired to define themselves by their work; their motivations to learn and do more are simply an extension of Man's Search for Meaning (gender neutral, of course) which is a search that has existed as long as humankind itself. We find meaning in our work and how we serve our community, our fellow human beings, and our families. This is what motivates most of us to pursue careers in health care. But if in the pursuit of this nirvana, the optometrist hits their proverbial head on the glass ceiling, they can't continue to deny that the ceiling exists. And in the end, the presence of that ceiling will bother some people. It doesn't make those people any better or worse nor does it make their lives any more or less meaningful than those who aren't bothered by it. After all, we find meaning in pursuits other than our vocational pursuits. There are avocational pursuits (athletics, music, art, etc), family, religion, etc. It's not a matter of passing judgement over another.

One could argue that folks like me and Reality Check are the "enlightened" and the rest are simply deluding themselves. Are we pointing out that the emperor is naked when everyone else refuses to admit it? Again, it's not that simple. To simplify the argument this way is unproductive and polarizing, as is your argument. The last thing we need is another identity crisis. Yet it is productive to counsel those early in their career planning that these issues do exist, and cannot be ignored. Will it affect all ODs? No, but this is one potential downside to the profession, and those considering optometry deserve the full story.

 

[J.opt]

This thread is serving its purpose, Caffeinated explained in one post what all of those frustrated optometrists haven?t said coming into this forum (and the OM forum) trying to scare kids off optometry. I think anyone wanting to go into optometry school should know that optometry has its limitations. The problem may lie upon the sad fact that optometry is a backup plan for many students who want to go to med school, but for one reason or another don?t meet the required standards. It is foolish for someone to enter optometry, and expect an ophthalmologist's duties/pay/etc. (and please, there is a thread already dealing with the OD Vs. OMD thing.)

This is what motivates most of us to pursue careers in health care. But if in the pursuit of this nirvana, the optometrist hits their proverbial head on the glass ceiling, they can't continue to deny that the ceiling exists. And in the end, the presence of that ceiling will bother some people.

So if the so called glass ceiling bothers some people, and some people are perfectly happy with it, is it fear for RC and others to come and tell us that NO BODY should enter optometry? I know that this may not be true for everybody, but what if I?m happy referring the patients that are out of my scope to an ophthalmologist? What if I rather earn 100K/year but not having to go through med school? What if ophthalmology is not for me? Should I go to med school against my will just because there are a couple of unhappy optometrists in the Internet telling me that optometry sucks? I don't think so.

Also, RC said before that the salary numbers from the AOA were inflated and way out of proportion. When you said that I figured that you were making about 50K, doesn?t your salary fit the numbers given by the AOA?

RC I don?t mean to personally offend you by questioning so much, it?s just that most of your posts have been quite mean, wrong intentioned, and until now, unreasonable.

 

[J.opt]

Originally posted by Simisn
Hey J.Opt I'm applying for the class of 2005 too🙂

😎 2 more years! 🙂

 

[Richard_Hom]

Dear Caffeinated et. al,

1. I think that self-actualization (if one believes in that) can take many forms and doesn't have to be channeled in work solely. It's true that men define themselves by work generally and now in this economy, a generation of men will find this out.
2. I don't see my role as an evangelist for optometry. My role is to point out some inconsistencies, misconceptions or generalizations that have occurred in this forum and on this subject.
3. You see, the trap of optometry of what your limits are is also present in medicine. For instance, for all of the 'freedom' one has to practice medicine, all it takes is some "invisible body" at a managed care company (guided by ERISA) to reject some planned therapy or treatment. That takes the cake, I think.
4. I am, therefore, predicting that what drove you nuts about optometry will eventually drive you nuts about medicine. It just will happen in a different manner. No doubt, medicine has a much greater arena to play in and I applaud all who strive and attain it. I also believe that the goal might not be as satisfying once achieved. And no doubt that optometry isn't for everyone.
5. I have met several ex-optometrists who are physicians. Of course, I generalize but they share some of the characteristics of any one whos is trying to break a habit. They'll dump on optometry "big time". It's like a "broken record" and is a sentment all too well known amongst seasoned optometrists. I'm hoping that you'll not demonstrate those characteristics.
   [/list=1]
   
   Regards,
   Richard

 

[simplyanny]

I just think anyone entering a career should enter it because they have done adaquate research that assures them that they are a good fit with the career. The research should always include the pros/cons sides, scopes and limitations, and such.

It is okay that people enter a career as a backup plan for another because life doesn't always happen the way we want it to. However, I feel that if that happens, a person has to either

a. accept their ability limits and be contented with what they have (the back-up job), or,
b. work harder and try again. if failed again, go back to part a.

complaining about any job because of one's dissatisfaction of not getting their top-choice job is not what life is about.

I truly appreciate all the inputs people give in the forum, because it is what the forum is for, listening to diverse viewpoints and respect (but not necessarily agreeing to) them. what comes down to be the most impt thing is, FOLLOW YOUR OWN HEART.

 

[aphistis]

I'm obviously visiting from across the street, but I just wanted to compliment this thread. RC and caffeinated are both wonderfully articulate in their criticisms, and Richard, you're doing a good job at the other podium. I'm a convert from pre-med myself, and optometry headed the list for a while. In the end, dentistry's appeal as a manual discipline triumphed over the theoretical nature of opometry. Of course, we'll never be MD's either (except for the few of us that go on to 6-year oral surgery residencies 😉), so at the very least you're not alone 😀

 

[r_salis]

Originally posted by J.opt
I know that this may not be true for everybody, but what if I?m happy referring the patients that are out of my scope to an ophthalmologist? What if I rather earn 100K/year but not having to go through med school? What if ophthalmology is not for me? Should I go to med school against my will just because there are a couple of unhappy optometrists in the Internet telling me that optometry sucks? I don't think so.

J Opt -- My thoughts exactly! 🙂 I've chosen to go into optometry after learning as much about what the profession is about as I could by talking to a lot of ODs and MDs, volunteering, and reading professional journals -- and I believe I've made an informed decision. I understand that there are ongoing identity issues in optometry and that my scope of practice will be limited, but for *me* it's more important to be able to have a personal impact on my patients' lives (even within the constraints of my license, even if it means referring them on to a ophthalmologist) than being an MD just so that I could know I was at the top of the eyecare pyramid, could do surgery, or be the end-all of a patient's eye care.

After separating out the "absolute" differences between the professions (as has been done ad nauseum in the OD vs. OMD thread), I think it comes down to personal preference for the type of career and work-life each of us wants to have. There's no absolute right or wrong in this -- it really comes down to individual choice.

 

[r_salis]

Originally posted by aphistis
I'm obviously visiting from across the street...

I hope you looked both ways before crossing. 😉 (I like to visit your side of the street sometimes, too. 😀 )

 

[Reality check]

J.Opt
You are not offending me. I welcome your comments. Your ignorance and lack of knowledge of the optometric profession has led you to tell me that my posts are "mean, wrong intentioned and unreasonable." Give me examples of what I said to back up your criticisms. You are NOT an optometrist. You have not attended optometry school or worked in the optometric field. When you become an OD in 2009, then you have the audacity to tell me as such.
The AOA does inflate optometric salaries. Talk to any optometrist in any state in any mode of practice; those figures are way too high. Have you looked at the statistics in the past few years on how many apply to optometry schools? Overall, applications have significantly decreased. Can you tell me why? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out.
Get an OD degree, work in the field and then SUGAR COAT optometry telling us what a great choice you made.
You'll be banging your head wondering why you chose optometry. I hope you have the financial backing to pay for your education because if you don't you will be in serious trouble when you get out. The prospects ARE NOT THERE and I"M NOT KIDDING YOU ABOUT THIS


All the Best to you,

RC

 

[simplyanny]

Originally posted by Simisn
Hey J.Opt I'm applying for the class of 2005 too🙂

Yoohoo Simisn, J. Opt, (and all the other UHCO'ers out there wondering around!)

we should set up a "viva~UHCO club" or the like!!

what do you think?

time has come for us to encourage/support each other!!



**ps, can someone please tell me how to add a smilie to my post?? my little confused brain cannot figure it out..a computer ****** I am...thanks!**

 

[J.opt]

On the left hand side of the post-reply page you?ll see the smilies. Just click on them 🙂

 

[simplyanny]

o now I got it, I have to change my "cp edit options" for the smilies to even show up!!! thanks a lot J.OPT tho!!you're AWESOME AWESOME!

Living in a high-tech world is not easy, but i'll try!!

😛 😛
(as you can see I'm having fun with these little things!)

 

[drbizzaro]

that reality check really has a lot of hatred towards the field of optometry... i wonder why he's so anal about the field?

 

[Eyegirl2k7]

I don't know much about the salary situation but I do know that one of my friends (A 4th year) was just offered a job that pays 100 000 + to start this fall.


Hmm..

 

[drbizzaro]

I don't know much about the salary situation but I do know that one of my friends (A 4th year) was just offered a job that pays 100 000 + to start this fall.


Hmm..

nice! is he/she a local resident, international student, etc?
and is this a commerical setting (like walmart) or a private practice (via partnership)

i'm actually thinking of doing commerical in order to pay back loans