Originally posted by prominence:
•can anyone else provide some insight on this topic?•••
Both radiology and Physical medicine have been discussed quite extensively in recent history. I would recommend you hop on one of those threads and determine if any of your questions might have been answered. Since I haven't seen much on optho, I will offer some quick observations:
Pros
- Potentially great lifestyle
- Salary potentially very good (see below)
- Hands on profession with cool devices and implementing the latest technology
Cons
- In densely populated areas, optho is suffering from too many phsyicians more so than most specialties. The result is that it is rather difficult to find work, not impossible though.
- Pay : There lies a very big fallacy about compensation in optho. The salary ranges are perhaps the largest of any specialty. This is because the old timers are hogging the lucretive lasix procedures, throwing a handful a year at the rookie opthomalogist. The result is far less pay for rookies.
- Major turf battles: The lasix procedure is one of biggest gimmics in all of medicine. It involves very little technical skill. Newer methods already being developed will eliminate the need to even perform a corneal flap. The result is an expensive procedure that many people feel you don't need an MD to perform. The result is a growing battlefield for optometrists.
- Market ; As in any specialty, if you are willing to move to remote locations, you can find work and pay. But if you plan on living in more desirable locations, competition for work is fierce. Optho has gotten very popular again, and residency programs are pouring 100's of physicians onto the markets every year. The result is less than favorable job opportunities. Turf battles by generalists, and optometrists only further exacerbate the problem.
***If you plan on living in a popular location, work and compensation aren't anywhere near what 'average salary' studies would have you believe. Having said that, if you have a family member in the business, perhaps a father who has a practice neatly wrapped up for you, opportunity will be much better. It is not unusual for veteran optho docs to bring in a million plus, as they have harvested a very lucretive practice before lasix became popular. This is a double edged sword however for fresh physicians entering the field now. A poor economy coupled with depleting numbers of potential patients for these electice cases means times will not be nearly as fruitful to the rookie opthalmologist.
