How prestigous is optometry?

[Toadesque]

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no I'm not one to pursue something b/c of the prestige surrounding it but I'm curious.

I come from a family of physicians/dentists etc. My dad is a dentist and I've been getting the hunch lately that he doesn't want me to get into it. I know he doesn't want to say "Don't do it" but he's been saying stuff like "Dentistry has a lot of overhead" "Dentistry is very stressful". All very obvious stuff but to me it sounds like he really thinks I should do something else. My brother is in medicine. My parents were telling me to look into optometry. So here i am.....

I know optometrists are doctors, just like dentists are but what is it really about? what is the process, school, etc?

 

[cunikki]

hey! my advice would be to look up some optometrists in the phone book that are near you and call and ask if you can come in and shadow them and ask them. once you see what they do and get a couple different opinions you will have a much better idea!
basically optometry is a 4 year professional degree (you have to graduate with a bachelors degree first) in my opinion its a pretty awesome career... but it just depends on what you want to do with your life. because of the optical aspect of optometry it is not purely medical like a MD but there are really two aspects... the refraction/getting glasses and also medical/health related aspects. if you can do a lot of the medical aspect i think you will end up more successful in the long run but a lot depends on the scope of practice in your state (how much you are allowed to do in terms of treatments)

i would advise seeing a couple doctors doing what they do and going from there

 

[EyeQ]

I can understand why your dad said that dentistry has a lot of overhead and it's stressful. It's true. One of my relative is a dentist and he complains about the same thing. Dentists do make more money than optometrists but honestly, they have to work almost twice at hard (bc of surgeries). It's also very messy b/c blood gets everywhere after certain procedures. He has his own private practice but didn't start making real money until 10 years later. Dentistry is definitely a respectable field but it has its cons just like any other profession.

You should search this forum for more information about optometry but take some info in with a grain of salt.

 

[Toadesque]

My dad also said that (applies to the overhead thing) that you have to deal with so much more. Staff, supplies, etc all the stuff. With optometry you don't have that.

Now keep in mind he said this after coming out of an appointment with an optometrist at Costco. I mean the guy must have been pretty well off, he gets a good load of customers and doesn't have to exert himself very much. But then again, I think this comes with the benefits of working in costco. Outside of there I'd imagine it is a lot harder no?

 

[eyestrain]

My dad also said that (applies to the overhead thing) that you have to deal with so much more. Staff, supplies, etc all the stuff. With optometry you don't have that.

That's news to me, unless of course you're destined to work at Costco, then that might be true.

 

[jc812]

My dad also said that (applies to the overhead thing) that you have to deal with so much more. Staff, supplies, etc all the stuff. With optometry you don't have that.

To my understanding, optometrists need a staff and supplies as well. Some optometrists won't need to do any hiring since they are the HIRED (floaters), but I'm sure that dentists have the same. Not ALL dentists own a private practice.

 

[H_Caulfield]

no I'm not one to pursue something b/c of the prestige surrounding it but I'm curious.

I come from a family of physicians/dentists etc. My dad is a dentist and I've been getting the hunch lately that he doesn't want me to get into it. I know he doesn't want to say "Don't do it" but he's been saying stuff like "Dentistry has a lot of overhead" "Dentistry is very stressful". All very obvious stuff but to me it sounds like he really thinks I should do something else. My brother is in medicine. My parents were telling me to look into optometry. So here i am.....

I know optometrists are doctors, just like dentists are but what is it really about? what is the process, school, etc?

You're working with some misconceptions. Optometrists are not doctors; there's no M.D. (or even a D.O.) after their names. Dentists, while not doctors either, are better respected than optometrists.

Optometrists are about as respected as pharmaceutical sales representatives, or that old guy standing just inside the double doors at Walmart whose job it is to say "Hello. Welcome to Walmart."

Hope this wasn't too honest for anybody. Just the way I see it.

 

[longlashes]

You're working with some misconceptions. Optometrists are not doctors; there's no M.D. (or even a D.O.) after their names. Dentists, while not doctors either, are better respected than optometrists.

Optometrists are about as respected as pharmaceutical sales representatives, or that old guy standing just inside the double doors at Walmart whose job it is to say "Hello. Welcome to Walmart."

Hope this wasn't too honest for anybody. Just the way I see it.

Why don't you get off your high horse and analyze the initials O.D. You called your optometrist "Dr.XX" don't you?

I don't know what other pre-opts think but I get really sad/upset when I see posters like this. We spend so much money and time on a 4 yr graduate level education and this is what we get. I know optometrists don't make as much money as dentists but both received the same amount of education. I guess America is all about whoever makes the more money rule the world. Seriously, there are way too many pre-meds and med students who think they are better than everyone else but they will have the initial M.D behind their names. There are many pre-opts out there that are more than qualify to go to med school but they just chose not to. In my opinion it is easier to get into med school than optometry school b/c there are many Caribbean med schools that will accept anyone with a pulse. Can you imagined someone with a 2.5 getting accepted to med school? It happens more often than we think.

 

[OnionKnight]

You're working with some misconceptions. Optometrists are not doctors; there's no M.D. (or even a D.O.) after their names. Dentists, while not doctors either, are better respected than optometrists.

Optometrists are about as respected as pharmaceutical sales representatives, or that old guy standing just inside the double doors at Walmart whose job it is to say "Hello. Welcome to Walmart."

Hope this wasn't too honest for anybody. Just the way I see it.

Sounds like someone's trying to get up on that pedestal to be worshiped. I guess that DDS (DOCTOR of Dental Science), OD (DOCTOR of Optometry), and PharmD (DOCTOR of Pharmacy) doesn't really count? Gee, and I thought it meant something.

 

[r_salis]

Optometrists are about as respected as pharmaceutical sales representatives, or that old guy standing just inside the double doors at Walmart whose job it is to say "Hello. Welcome to Walmart."

Hope this wasn't too honest for anybody. Just the way I see it.

I have a whole new respect for medical students now. 🙄

 

[jc812]

You're working with some misconceptions. Optometrists are not doctors; there's no M.D. (or even a D.O.) after their names. Dentists, while not doctors either, are better respected than optometrists.

Optometrists are about as respected as pharmaceutical sales representatives, or that old guy standing just inside the double doors at Walmart whose job it is to say "Hello. Welcome to Walmart."

Hope this wasn't too honest for anybody. Just the way I see it.

You OBVIOUSLY know your stuff. 🙄 What you said wasn't an honest opinion.. it was an uneducated one.

 

[Thallium]

Why is it that when I go over to the pre MD forums there seem to be so many more pretentious and arrogant people than in any of the other forums?

 

[still_confused]

Hope this wasn't too honest for anybody. Just the way I see it.

the way i see it you are freaking ***** and i pity your patients, collegues, family, friends, and anyone that has to even see your stupid face.

 

[Hallm_7]

Doctor can be used in a couple different ways. In one sense "doctor" refers to the degree that a person holds, and referring to someone as "Dr. M" or "Dr. S" acknowledges that they hold a professional or academic doctoral degree (MD, DO, OD, DDS, DMD, PhD, EdD, PharmD, PsychD, DPT, etc). So referring to your optometrist as "Dr. Optometrist" acknowledges the fact they have earned a doctoral degree in optometry.

However, in the setting of medical practice and medical care optometrists are not considered "doctors" just like pharmacists and dentists aren't considered doctors. For example, if someone goes into cardiac arrest on a plane it would be inappropriate for a dentist, optometrist, or doctoral-level nurse to say they're a doctor when they're assisting the person. When asked what kind of professional they are ODs will say "optometrist," DMDs will say "dentist," and PharmDs will say "pharmacist." Society would consider it unethical/dishonest for anyone other than an MD/DO to call themselves a Doctor because society defines the job title of Doctor as being held only by MDs/DOs.

 

[eyestrain]

Doctor can be used in a couple different ways. In one sense "doctor" refers to the degree that a person holds, and referring to someone as "Dr. M" or "Dr. S" acknowledges that they hold a professional or academic doctoral degree (MD, DO, OD, DDS, DMD, PhD, EdD, PharmD, PsychD, DPT, etc). So referring to your optometrist as "Dr. Optometrist" acknowledges the fact they have earned a doctoral degree in optometry.

However, in the setting of medical practice and medical care optometrists are not considered "doctors" just like pharmacists and dentists aren't considered doctors. For example, if someone goes into cardiac arrest on a plane it would be inappropriate for a dentist, optometrist, or doctoral-level nurse to say they're a doctor when they're assisting the person. When asked what kind of professional they are ODs will say "optometrist," DMDs will say "dentist," and PharmDs will say "pharmacist." Society would consider it unethical/dishonest for anyone other than an MD/DO to call themselves a Doctor because society defines the job title of Doctor as being held only by MDs/DOs.

Yet again, the MD students swoop in to defend their God-given right to the word "Doctor".

 

[still_confused]

the most unethical and dishonest thing facing society is MDs

 

[Tired]

the most unethical and dishonest thing facing society is MDs

Maybe we could compromise.

I can go by: Doctor Tired

When you graduate, you can be "Doctor" Still_Confused

 

[still_confused]

Maybe we could compromise.

I can go by: Doctor Tired

When you graduate, you can be "Doctor" Still_Confused

you can go by Arrogant Tired, no quotations needed

 

[eyestrain]

the most unethical and dishonest thing facing society is MDs

What? Please explain.

 

[r_salis]

*Sigh*. This thread has run its course.

Closing.