Optometry needs to keep reinventing itself

[geronamo26]

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If people are worried about the oversupply of ODs, there are a couple things that I think would help solve the problem.
1. Longer, mandatory residencies (following the medical model) 2-3years
2. Reinventing itself to make it more valuable to the public
3. Continued lobbying for more rights (which is happening)

One year in any kind of residency is not enough to really stand out. By no way am I saying that OD school and residency is easy to do. Is one year in contact lense study enough? For private practice, how is a one year residency in contact lense really going to help you stand out from others? A year for pediatrics? Really? Geriatrics? Dont private practice OD already work with that population?

 

[Moptometry]

If people are worried about the oversupply of ODs, there are a couple things that I think would help solve the problem.
1. Longer, mandatory residencies (following the medical model) 2-3years:

And actually treating people....Not just refracting and giving out contact lenses, they gota make this profession more medical than commercial. Atleast in Canada. Optometrist cant even prescribe drops in ONTARIO LMAO. Thats just disgraceful.

 

[Mewcakes]

The required residency will probably come around in the next 10 yrs. And you'd be surprised the kind of experience you pick up in a year's residency. Because we perform no surgery, it's not like we gain tremendous skill in relation to time. The curve probably levels off shortly after a year or maybe two. Though 2 yr residencies are available...so you can do that if you want. We already learn pediatrics, CLs, and geriatrics in school. The purpose of the residency is to have more exposure to it under the watchful eye of one more experienced.

But you must be very careful when "lobbying for rights". If you get too close to the medical purview of the ophthalmologists, they will try their hardest to shut you down. And they won't just say "no, we already do X, you can't do that", they will try to say "no, you can't do X, we already do that. But we notice you've also been doing Y lately, we think you shouldn't be able to do that either". They will try to take away more than what you were asking for in the first place.

It's just the way legislature works. If you want to get involved, join the AOA and go to your local meetings (once you're an OD, that is) and do your thang there.

It's all easier said than done.

 

[ABaverage]

We're fine. Just stop churning out those new schools. That's something that is RECENT. As far as commercialized optometry, that's been around for as long as optometry has. Ain't nothing u can do about that one.

 

[geronamo26]

Yes there is. Stop supporting Big Box Stores/Retail Eye stores. Join or start group practices or start your own practice. I plan on starting one in my city. Newer ODs are coming out better than ever! Keep up the good work! You are all an inspiration for me!

 

[ABaverage]

I'm not saying I support box/retail stores but there is a retail component to our profession. Selling goods. No other med profession does it as much as we do.. it just is a part of optometry!