specialties?

[anxietypeaker]

was just wondering if optometry has "formal" specialties. I realize there are residencies, but is there something like what medicine (cardiology, pediatrics) /dentistry (orthodontistry,oral surgery)/podiatry (ankle surg, forefoot surg)/pharmacy (nuclear medicine, pharmacotherapy) have? Where a formal board certifies you in a specialty/subspecialty after residency. And if there is, which ones are they (is there a site with a list of them)?

If there are no formal specialties/subspecialties, was wondering whats the purpose of residency in optom? all the other above professions have formal specialties that you can become BOARD certified in.

thanks everyone

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[4Eyes]

was just wondering if optometry has "formal" specialties. I realize there are residencies, but is there something like what medicine (cardiology, pediatrics) /dentistry (orthodontistry,oral surgery)/podiatry (ankle surg, forefoot surg)/pharmacy (nuclear medicine, pharmacotherapy) have? Where a formal board certifies you in a specialty/subspecialty after residency. And if there is, which ones are they (is there a site with a list of them)?

If there are no formal specialties/subspecialties, was wondering whats the purpose of residency in optom? all the other above professions have formal specialties that you can become BOARD certified in.

thanks everyone

From what I understand, most people who do residencies do them either because they want to teach (in which case, a residency is pretty much essential) or they want a leg up on something more specific (like CL's, binocular vision and pediatrics, disease, etc.).

Of course you can do it just because you want to learn more and/or you want to build your resume.

I guess this isn't exactly what you were looking for, but this might help: http://www.opted.org/reslookup/
Your school will have lots of information too.

I'm probably among the least qualified to talk about residencies, but that's what I know.

 

[4Eyes]

Ooh, I just found this too: http://www.optometryresident.org/List_header.htm

 

[Ben Chudner]

was just wondering if optometry has "formal" specialties. I realize there are residencies, but is there something like what medicine (cardiology, pediatrics) /dentistry (orthodontistry,oral surgery)/podiatry (ankle surg, forefoot surg)/pharmacy (nuclear medicine, pharmacotherapy) have? Where a formal board certifies you in a specialty/subspecialty after residency. And if there is, which ones are they (is there a site with a list of them)?

If there are no formal specialties/subspecialties, was wondering whats the purpose of residency in optom? all the other above professions have formal specialties that you can become BOARD certified in.

thanks everyone

There are no formal specialties, and in fact, in some states it is illegal to call yourself a specialist (such as contact lens specialist). The purpose of doing a residency depends on the doctor. Most do it to become more proficient in an aspect of optometry, ie contact lenses, binocular vision, low vision, etc. Others do it to go into academia. I suspect there are a ton of reasons why someone might choose to do a residency. There is no formal board which certifies an OD in a specialty like there is in medicine.

 

[Tom_Stickel]

Just search the forums for optometry and residency/residencies. This question has been asked a lot and covered ad infinitum. There'll be more info than you could ever want...

 

[Canadian26]

Check this one out, I think it'll answer most of your questions

http://www.opted.org/residencies_faq.cfm