Ob/gyn vs. ophtho?

[SandP]

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[raiderette]

I am actually in your shoes exactly. I had years of women's health research, and always assumed I would be ob/gyn. However, I loved my optho rotation and they loved me. An unexpected high risk pregnancy has me doing a research year, and I am still torn. I don't think your concerns about salary are accurate. New optho seems to be fine, unless you are committed to a highly saturated area. I agree that patient panel is better in over/gyn. I find ob/gyn patients some of the most compliant. Hours are much more stable in optho, but the ability to specialize in ob/gyn can significantly affect the horrible hours. Both offer significant chances to make a difference in research (endometriosis/infertility vs. cataract and surgery advancements).
In my case, I may just take this year to see who loves me more.

 

[7331poas]

"take a pay cut in ophtho"

wtf

 

[Dr G Oogle]

Do optho; passions fade with time and fatigue but a relaxing and well compensated lifestyle lasts a lifetime especially since you enjoy both. Don’t know much about ophtho residency but a 255 should land you a spot. And I’ve never heard of an optho making less than a General obgyn in the same geographic region; though an obgyn in Carson City Nevada May make more than an ophto in Chicago

 

[doc05]

Do optho; passions fade with time and fatigue but a relaxing and well compensated lifestyle lasts a lifetime especially since you enjoy both. Don’t know much about ophtho residency but a 255 should land you a spot. And I’ve never heard of an optho making less than a General obgyn in the same geographic region; though an obgyn in Carson City Nevada May make more than an ophto in Chicago

Agree.

Who cares where your "passions" are anyway. You should be passionate about your life outside of work, and optho is better for that.

 

[Bronze Medal]

Current PGY-4 ophthalmology resident here. I LOVE ophthalmology, but of course it is not a perfect field. Clinic usually has a nice amount of procedures such as intravitreal injections (anti-VEGF, steroid medication or longer-lasting steroid implants), lasers (PRP, retinopexy, focal laser, YAG, SLT, LPI) and eyelid lesion removal. Cataract surgery is our bread and butter, but other surgeries are also awesome. Other surgeries you can potentially learn how to perform are vitrectomies, scleral buckles, membrane peels, corneal transplants, trabeculectomies and tube shunt insertions, strabismus surgery, ptosis repairs, blepharoplasties, orbitotomies and lots of others. Operating under a microscope is an adjustment process. If for some reason you miss more medically intensive disease management you can consider a fellowship in uveitis or neuro-ophthalmology, however those sub-specialists generally perform less surgery. Call during residency is surprisingly busy, but after training is generally light unless you choose surgical retina or oculoplastics. Even then call does not compare to OB. I probably averaged 50-60 hour work weeks over the course of residency. I have never once gone over 80 hours. High volume cataract surgeons, refractive surgeons, and retina surgeons can make a ton of money. Like any field, you make less money in large, saturated cities, but can potentially make a lot more in smaller cities. Check out the AAO job listings website for some idea of starting salaries. Good luck with your decision!

Jobs | Ophthalmology Job Center

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Ophthalmology hands down. OB for sure is a blast, it's great when all goes well. It's the worst day in your life if things dont. The call is way worse than optho. Think of your health too. Doing GYN is like being a dentist. No one is ever happy to see you, as no woman looks forward to her annual exam.

 

[Quantal Reasoning]

Most Ob's "quit" after 10-15 years. To me that's pretty telling.

 

[jhamaican]

If I was offered a choice of only either
1. be an OB/GYN
2. quit medicine.

#2 easy without a second thought.
Only reason with doing OB/GYN is IVF. Even still you have to survive a brutal residency to get there.

 

[nimbus]

OB is messy. Sweating, grunting, and stuff coming out of every orifice. No thanks.

 

[Phaco]

I looked at the residents in both fields. The OB residents were fine but ophtho residents seemed a little happier.

 

[DrGoon]

it shocks me that people even want to be obgyns

 

[Dr G Oogle]

Most Ob's "quit" after 10-15 years. To me that's pretty telling.

Not sure what you mean by that. I have seen plenty of generalists in my residency and fellowship department that still do L&D shifts or are exclusively laborists over 15 years out. Granted that’s not for many people and there’s a lot of burnout with that level of acuity just like in ER, and many people transition to office or gyn only (perhaps that’s what you mean by “quit”). But the days of solo practice and 1:3 call are over, the vast majority are in large groups or hospital employees and seldom come in to deliver babies unless they are on call.

 

[Psai]

OB is messy. Sweating, grunting, and stuff coming out of every orifice. No thanks.

I dunno this sounds like a good time to me

 

[ciestar]

Im doing OB now and work with a lot of people that absolutely love what they do. I kinda like it too if im being completely honest.