I'm referring to specialization within Optometry: vision therapy, specialty contact lens fitting, ocular disease, dry eye, etc.
These are things Optometrists already do on a regular basis, but in many cases it is done on the side. The more we can carve out specific niches, the more we can survive on limited populations, instead of competing for the exact same market. Patients would greatly benefit from specialty care.
There are many areas of Optometry that can be delved into, and the more ODs can refer patients back and forth instead of stealing patients and griping about neighboring competition, the better. Minor surgeries are being done in a couple of states by Optometrists, and if they are well trained for it, then great. I'm sure patients will benefit from better access to care, as long as it is quality care. The argument from the OMD side of course, is that it is not quality care. I imagine the argument against bridging Optometry school with a surgical residency would focus on the importance of understanding whole body processes in order to deal with the possible complications of surgery, but the real roadblock will always be political.
I personally don't know why organized Optometry seems so set on gaining more surgical privileges. I'm just an ignorant student, and I realize that there are many different kinds of "surgery" in the eye care world, but it seems to me that there are more pressing matters that need attention. Like trying to curb the surge of new Optometry schools. There is no regulation, and probably won't be, which is another reason I think more OD graduates should consider specializing. I'm not talking about board certification. I mean starting a specialty practice. Dentistry has done this, and there is no reason Optometry shouldn't.
Last year at a large Optometry meeting, I asked the former president of the AOA whether or not we should be worried about oversupply of new ODs. he said "Absolutely not!"
Not comforting.