Jymez,
First, I have interviewed at SCO, OSU, and SCCO. Let me tell you that the easiest interview was my first, at SCO. They didn't ask me any weird hypothetical questions. I really felt like Dr. Dumas, my interviewer, really wanted to get to know me as a person.
**Also, when SCO interviews you, the interviewer knows nothing about you... they have not seen your file, so you have a clean slate to tell the interviewer anything about yourself you want. I had a really good time... we were joking around and she asked about how I decided upon Optometry, and I asked her about how she got to where she's at with her career. It was really relaxed.
To answer your hypothetical question.... Opthlamologists are considered specialists. They are very good at what they specialize in (cataract/retinal/lasik/corneal transplant surgery, etc). Are they qualified to do everything that an OD can do? Absolutely. As an Opthalmologist is your time more valuable seeing patients who need Primary Eye Care or actually practicing your specialty in the operating room? The answer of course is in the operating room. They make $bank$ doing all those surgeries.
I work for two ODs and I recently accompanied my mom to a full eye with her Opthlamologist. Not only did she pay more for her exam, I noticed that her one-on-one time with the Opthalmologist was very minimal. He wanted to complete her exam as quickly as he possibly could.
My take is that in many instances an OD will do a better job at fitting you for contacts/glasses/and even treatment for glaucoma/keratoconus/macular degeneration, etc. Since that IS the OD's specialty, he takes pride in his work and makes sure that you are well taken care of. MDs have "bigger" things on their plates.
Of course, if you need surgery, then your OD will refer you to the appropriate MD, who can then refer you back to the OD for post-op care.
I hope this helps.
