O.D./Ph.D.??

[SportsJunkie25]

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**It's a tad long but an explanation is needed for correct feedback.**

Is anyone familiar with a Ph.D. in Vision Science? What would I do if I didn't have the O.D. part attached to my name? What would I do if I did have the O.D. part attached to my name? Basically, my goal is to work w/ pediatric vision: pediatric eye diseases, cancer (I'm really interested in retinoblastoma), retina, strabismus and all sorts of other cool stuff that affects the vision of kids, BUT I don't like refracting, VT or fitting contact lenses (which, pretty much takes me out of the running for an O.D. right?) Basically, I want to be presented w/ a bunch of symptoms so I can diagnose and come up w/ a treatment plan.

I'm posting this in the O.D. forum b/c I'm not that interested in the surgical aspect of ophthalmology. The ophth's said I didn't have to be a surgical ophth but I feel like that would be a waste of 4-5yrs of an ophth residency if I didn't do surgery when I was finished. So, I'm just checking other avenues to make the best decision...

Anyway, I just wanted to know if I had a Ph.D. in Vision Science, would I still be able to "look" at the research patients (i.e. using BIO, slit lamp, etc.) or would I be the person all the information is given to...and gathered by someone else? I'm confused on how to get to my goal: O.D.? O.D./Ph.D.? Ph.D.? or M.D.? 😕😕😕

EDIT: Equipment of interest: Along w/ the BIO and slit lamp...Topography, pachy, GDX, OCT, etc.

 

[EyEnStein 07]

I guess i will start off with telling you a few things i know, and hopefully the optometrists on the board will provide you with much better info.

The situation you describe is kind of difficult. On one hand you seem to be interested in the research aspect, which requires an MS or PhD. On the other hand you want the pediatrics...now do you just want to research it? Or actually work with children? I think if you want to be able to treat and diagnose the disorders associated with Peds, you will have to get your OD and then do a pediatric residency.

When you say you want to diagnose and come up with a treatment plan, sounds more like what an OD would do.

I believe the only people you will be working with if you have a PhD, are your colleagues and the volunteers who want to participate or the ones you recruit to be apart of your study. I do not know the extent to what you are allowed to do with them and not allowed to do with them.

I advise you to take a look at this following link:
http://www.sunyopt.edu/prospective/index.shtml

if you scroll down, Suny basically tells you the descriptions of the degrees and what you can do with them.

 

[qwopty99]

**It's a tad long but an explanation is needed for correct feedback.**

Is anyone familiar with a Ph.D. in Vision Science? What would I do if I didn't have the O.D. part attached to my name? What would I do if I did have the O.D. part attached to my name? Basically, my goal is to work w/ pediatric vision: pediatric eye diseases, cancer (I'm really interested in retinoblastoma), retina, strabismus and all sorts of other cool stuff that affects the vision of kids, BUT I don't like refracting, VT or fitting contact lenses (which, pretty much takes me out of the running for an O.D. right?) Basically, I want to be presented w/ a bunch of symptoms so I can diagnose and come up w/ a treatment plan.

I'm posting this in the O.D. forum b/c I'm not that interested in the surgical aspect of ophthalmology. The ophth's said I didn't have to be a surgical ophth but I feel like that would be a waste of 4-5yrs of an ophth residency if I didn't do surgery when I was finished. So, I'm just checking other avenues to make the best decision...

Anyway, I just wanted to know if I had a Ph.D. in Vision Science, would I still be able to "look" at the research patients (i.e. using BIO, slit lamp, etc.) or would I be the person all the information is given to...and gathered by someone else? I'm confused on how to get to my goal: O.D.? O.D./Ph.D.? Ph.D.? or M.D.? 😕😕😕

EDIT: Equipment of interest: Along w/ the BIO and slit lamp...Topography, pachy, GDX, OCT, etc.

I don't see how you're going to see much pediatric cancer (e.g. retinoblastoma) unless you specialize in the treatment/surgery of it. It's just not rare enough for you to get a lot of it, unless you get ALL of it referred to you, and this would only happen if you are the go-to guy in a tertiary level teaching hospital in a given city/catchment area. I'm guessing the path to this would be ophthalmology with two fellowships, one in pediatrics, the other in oncology and/or pathology. This would make you the expert in this area.

As for wanting to be in a position where you make the diagnosis based on clinical findings, USUALLY people do BOTH. As such, you are normally a doctor making clinical findings, followed by a diagnosis. If you aren't interested in the clinical aspect of it, pathology (and maybe radiology) seems to be the closest fit, since all those folks do are get results of tests and give diagnoses. But that said, pathology and radiology isn't exactly pediatrics.

Keep looking. If you get more insights, post them, and perhaps you'll get more feedback.

 

[SportsJunkie25]

...
The situation you describe is kind of difficult. On one hand you seem to be interested in the research aspect, which requires an MS or PhD. On the other hand you want the pediatrics...now do you just want to research it? Or actually work with children? I think if you want to be able to treat and diagnose the disorders associated with Peds, you will have to get your OD and then do a pediatric residency.
...

I'm more interested in seeing kids...only kids. I'd want a practice solely dedicated to pediatric ocular diseases.

I don't see how you're going to see much pediatric cancer (e.g. retinoblastoma) unless you specialize in the treatment/surgery of it.
...

I don't have to see retinoblastoma on a regular basis. I was just stating that I think it's interesting; I think ocular disease, in general, is interesting. I was trying to express my preference of having a practice where I solely deal w/ pediatric ocular disease instead of refracting and VT.

Would that be more along the lines of Ophth? If that's the case, why do OD's have Ocular Disease residencies if most of the Ocular Disease goes to the Ophth's? I guess an Opt would just have to work w/ an Ophth if they wanted a practice geared towards ocular disease??

 

[qwopty99]

I agree.

 

[jymezg]

I read through your post on the Ophthalmology forum, you've got an interesting niche planned out. Have you talked to any OMD's in person and explained your goals? Better yet have you googled to see if there is anybody who specializes in pediatric retinoblastoma in your area? You should be able to find some practice possibly in your area, talking to one of those docs would be helpful.

OD: http://drstamper.com/servicesretinoblastoma.html
OMD:http://www.uchicagokidshospital.org/specialties/cancer/retinoblastoma/index.html
Phd: use pubmed

As an OD you might be limited to the amount of disease you see, unless you are in a joint practice, but then you would probably need a pediatric residency anyways (total 5 yrs).

OMD you would be in training a bit longer BUT you would be able to satisfy your goals, even if you elect not to perform surgery.

With a PhD you will probably be given all of your data, unless you collaborate with an OMD/OD in the area who happens to be seeing the patients you want. This could be difficult to coordinate IMO.

 

[SportsJunkie25]

Qwopty99...good post, thanks for the info. I guess I'll stick w/ the OMD path. I was just making sure...

I read through your post on the Ophthalmology forum, you've got an interesting niche planned out. Have you talked to any OMD's in person and explained your goals? Better yet have you googled to see if there is anybody who specializes in pediatric retinoblastoma in your area? You should be able to find some practice possibly in your area, talking to one of those docs would be helpful.

OD: http://drstamper.com/servicesretinoblastoma.html
OMD:http://www.uchicagokidshospital.org/specialties/cancer/retinoblastoma/index.html
Phd: use pubmed

As an OD you might be limited to the amount of disease you see, unless you are in a joint practice, but then you would probably need a pediatric residency anyways (total 5 yrs).

OMD you would be in training a bit longer BUT you would be able to satisfy your goals, even if you elect not to perform surgery.

With a PhD you will probably be given all of your data, unless you collaborate with an OMD/OD in the area who happens to be seeing the patients you want. This could be difficult to coordinate IMO.

I've been googling this stuff like crazy.We only have 2 Peds Ophth's in my area and neither of them have allowed me to shadow them. I stopped by one office and got the run-around and I've gotten the run-around from the other office the 5+ times I've called. I'll stop by her office just to make sure.

Last week, I found an OMD (online) who did a Peds fellowship and a Ocular Oncology fellowship and specialized in Retinoblastoma. Besides that, I haven't really found anyone esle. But, when it comes to fellowships, I'll probably just do a Peds fellowship seeing as retinoblastoma isn't that prevalent. Mostly, I'm interested in all of the pediatric diseases (glauc, cataract, retinoblastoma, ROP, etc) so we'll see.

I think I'll leave out the Ph.D. I was only considering that if that would be a better avenue for me to go down if I wasn't really that interested in surgery. After all of the responses, I know Ph.D. isn't the best way to get to my goals to nevermind about that. When it comes to surgery, you never know, once I start school, I may really enjoy it. I'm going to keep an open mind. 😀

Thanks to everyone who responded. You guys were very helpful!