Opto take over of Ophtho?

[jmillski]

A lot of threads on this are almost ten years old. I have wanted to do ophtho for the past 15 years (retina in specific). Now that I'm at third year, I think I have the grades, board score and extras to match pretty well. BUT I'm starting to worry about the field- everything you read on here is pessimistic. Kentucky just went on the list of states allowing optometrists to perform surgeries. The name of the game is cost savings, so why wouldn't the go government push this? Anyone who knows more than me (which isn't much) on the subject aware of recent developments in this area?

I want lifestyle more than anything- I will base how much I enjoy work on how much time I have to see my family, fish, fly, and bird watch. I also love ortho and ENT- and it seems like ENT has the best of both worlds.

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[rigid]

If you think optometrists are going to take over jobs of ophthalmologists you are insane.

 

[Kadava Reviva]

A lot of threads on this are almost ten years old. I have wanted to do ophtho for the past 15 years (retina in specific). Now that I'm at third year, I think I have the grades, board score and extras to match pretty well. BUT I'm starting to worry about the field- everything you read on here is pessimistic. Kentucky just went on the list of states allowing optometrists to perform surgeries. The name of the game is cost savings, so why wouldn't the go government push this? Anyone who knows more than me (which isn't much) on the subject aware of recent developments in this area?

I want lifestyle more than anything- I will base how much I enjoy work on how much time I have to see my family, fish, fly, and bird watch. I also love ortho and ENT- and it seems like ENT has the best of both worlds.

Optos can't prescribe meds and can't perform surgery. They are to ophtos what psychologists are to psychiatrists.
There will be work for ophtos until the apocalypse. There is a lot of moolah to be made from La$i¢ . I am talking $milions/year if you want to work your bum off.

 

[jmillski]

No see this is an old perception. They can prescribe and in some states perform surgeries.

 

[cbrons]

Optos can't prescribe meds and can't perform surgery. They are to ophtos what psychologists are to psychiatrists.
There will be work for ophtos until the apocalypse. There is a lot of moolah to be made from La$i¢ . I am talking $milions/year if you want to work your bum off.

In my state optos can now prescribe oral antibiotics among other things.

 

[ronaldo23]

I agree that opto isn't taking over at all, but some states allow opto to perform lasik and prescribe medicine (oklahoma). Granted it is a very, very small percentage of optos that are actually interested in doing these sorts of things. Also, lasik is hardly as well paying as it once was- you certainly will not be making millions/year or anywhere close to that. The medicare reimbursements have also gone down in ophtho more drastically than in other fields in the last two decades. The hours are still great, but ophtho isn't all that well paying anymore, especially when you consider fields of similar competitiveness to get into.

That being said, opto as a profession is even more on the decline. They are facing similar problems to law schools now, with huge saturation (and hence decreased salary) and expansion of diploma mills. The days of starting that lucrative six-fig private practice out of school are gone, and most settle for walmart/lenscraft jobs with mediocre pay and prospects

 

[Kadava Reviva]

No see this is an old perception. They can prescribe and in some states perform surgeries.

You gotta be kidding!

I guess I shouldn't have those statements, because I'm in Canada.

Wow! I had no idea.

 

[officedepot]

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[officedepot]

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[ronaldo23]

I have absolutely no idea where you are getting this from. Optometrists can make tons of money working at lescrafters (which is actually private practice because lenscrafters only contracts with opto to work in its locations) and walmart and can have decent hours if they want. They can easily bring in more than 200k per year in private practice (I know many). And opto doesn't have a degree mill. Hell there are only 20 schools in the US right now.

read the opto board on SDN. Most optometrists on there feel the opposite sentiment to what you are saying about the current and future of the field

here's a thread where lots of optometrists, students, and pre-optometrists debate the issues faced in the field. Pretty interesting IMO

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=827872

 

[Shnurek]

In my state optos can now prescribe oral antibiotics among other things.

Yes, we can prescribe oral medications in 47 states. Even controlled substances in more than 30. But do not let that deter you in pursuing your dreams. If you go ophtho you will still be at the top and I will look forward to working with you if you choose. We do not perform any invasive surgeries and you guys make 2x the money.

 

[Shnurek]

A lot of threads on this are almost ten years old. I have wanted to do ophtho for the past 15 years (retina in specific).

Also, retina is the safest alternative for an ophtho. No optometrist performs intravitreal injections, does PRP/FOCAL lasers or really treats any posterior segment diseases. We are anterior segment/optics experts and we compete with the comprehensive ophthos. Not to mention the fact that retina fellows are the most highly compensated out of all ophthos (on average). I'd say remuneration is ~2.5-3x times that of a salaried OD.

But then again reimbursement for intravitreal injections got cut last year by 25% so yeah can't really predict what is going to happen, just have to go into what you love.

 

[Shnurek]

http://newsfromaoa.org/2012/01/06/m...or-now-ods-expected-to-see-2012-pay-increase/