Optometry Specialties?

[Neil45]

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I know there is one for geriatics(sp?), which I think is treating seniors. Are there any other specialties related to optometry? If so, how many years does it take to become a specialty? Are the salary usually higher than those of general optometrist(not to sound greedy, just curious)? Do a lot of graduates focus on specialty? Or is it just a waste of time?

 

[drmhyde]

I know there is one for geriatics(sp?), which I think is treating seniors. Are there any other specialties related to optometry? If so, how many years does it take to become a specialty? Are the salary usually higher than those of general optometrist(not to sound greedy, just curious)? Do a lot of graduates focus on specialty? Or is it just a waste of time?

Sure ..lots of them
Vision science, peds, sports vision, low vision, Vision Therapy, etc.
You be exposed to all at school. A residency is not necessary..but if you want extra credibility or wish to be associated with a hospital or university them I do recommend some residency upon graduation for Opto school...so 4 yrs undergrad, 4 grad school, and 1-3 yrs in residency programs.
good luck

 

[Tom_Stickel]

I know there is one for geriatics(sp?), which I think is treating seniors. Are there any other specialties related to optometry? If so, how many years does it take to become a specialty? Are the salary usually higher than those of general optometrist(not to sound greedy, just curious)? Do a lot of graduates focus on specialty? Or is it just a waste of time?

Neil,

There are "specialties", but not in the same recognized sense as in medicine. In medicine, if you do a residency to become a specialist, such as an ophthalmologist. Then you can do a fellowship to become a subspecialist, such as a cornea or retina fellowship.

To specialize in optometry, you simply call yourself a specialist and start doing that specialty. You can do a residency in that specialty, but it's not necessary. I do mostly ocular disease, but I never did a primary care or disease residency at the VA or Bascom Palmer. I just did it.

The salaries are not really any higher based on your "specialty" or whether you did a residency. They should be helpful in academia or at the VA.

There is some talk in the profession about having a formal process of attaining a specialty. For instance, the American Academy of Optometry has eight sections which correspond to specialties. Sometime in the future, you might be able to attain a formal specialist status through the AAO.

 

[Hines302]

Sure ..lots of them
Vision science, peds, sports vision, low vision, Vision Therapy, etc.
You be exposed to all at school. A residency is not necessary..but if you want extra credibility or wish to be associated with a hospital or university them I do recommend some residency upon graduation for Opto school...so 4 yrs undergrad, 4 grad school, and 1-3 yrs in residency programs.
good luck

I thought a residency was only 1 year for Optometry? Are there some that are longer?

 

[rpie]

I thought a residency was only 1 year for Optometry? Are there some that are longer?

yes,and there are also post residency fellowships. I think now there is an OD residency matching service you use which also tells you what's available.