Thoughts on the future of optometry

[d3star]

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Hi all, I've been pre-optometry for a while now
but my parents keep telling me that optometry is not a good field to get into considering the Obama adminstration's health care reform.

I understand that we all should be passionate but I fear that the money that I invest in optometry school may not be worth it.

Thanks for your insight! =)

 

[Oogilily]

Just go look at the Optometry forum. This has been hashed and rehashed for years now. Just search for it and you will find plenty of material.

 

[Jwalker]

.

 

[biggs]

I also have questions about this. i was searching thru the forums and found some debates about how health care reform will affect optometry, and if optometrists will be considered physicians under the final bill, but i was never able to get a definitive answer. Has there been a final answer yet?

also, i read that more and more, oMD's are taking over work that OD's usually perform. Is this trend likely to continue?

Lastly, could somebody explain what exactly this "non-discrimination" stuff that keeps getting discussed means. Im not too well versed on all this legal jargon. And What affects does OD's being considered physicians or not have?

thanks in advance

 

[optojake]

yes, we are physicians under Medicare.

no, for the most part oMDs want to do surgery. they didnt do a 4 year residency and 2-4 year fellowship to treat blepharitis.

no, we will not be discriminated against.

ODs perfrom around 75% of all eye exams nationwide each year. we're not going anywhere.

you'll run into doctors who are all "gloom and doom". take them with a grain of salt. optometry's scope has done nothing but increased over the past decade. the problem is that reimbursement rates from insurance companies have decreased, but this is not selective for optometry, its all health care fields. but then again, look at what most ODs drive and the lifestyle they live. for the most part, i think we're doing fine.

 

[IndianaOD]

yes, we are physicians under Medicare.

no, for the most part oMDs want to do surgery. they didnt do a 4 year residency and 2-4 year fellowship to treat blepharitis.

no, we will not be discriminated against.

ODs perfrom around 75% of all eye exams nationwide each year. we're not going anywhere.

you'll run into doctors who are all "gloom and doom". take them with a grain of salt. optometry's scope has done nothing but increased over the past decade. the problem is that reimbursement rates from insurance companies have decreased, but this is not selective for optometry, its all health care fields. but then again, look at what most ODs drive and the lifestyle they live. for the most part, i think we're doing fine.

General OMDs have a 3 year residency after a transitional year. No fellowship unless they are a sub-specialists. Many greedy OMDs (who already make 2-4x an OD) are putting in opticals and selling glasses. Personally, I want to refer to a good surgeon not someone who wants to do everything.

Currently I do not recommend the profession to prospective students. I'm just being honest.

 

[achirum]

yes, we are physicians under Medicare.

no, for the most part oMDs want to do surgery. they didnt do a 4 year residency and 2-4 year fellowship to treat blepharitis.

no, we will not be discriminated against.

ODs perfrom around 75% of all eye exams nationwide each year. we're not going anywhere.

you'll run into doctors who are all "gloom and doom". take them with a grain of salt. optometry's scope has done nothing but increased over the past decade. the problem is that reimbursement rates from insurance companies have decreased, but this is not selective for optometry, its all health care fields. but then again, look at what most ODs drive and the lifestyle they live. for the most part, i think we're doing fine.

Like the poster has alluded to, it is all about getting on those insurance panels. 😀

 

[ICOOD]

Scope matters. In Calif and some other states, we are paid by insurance companies for "routine" eye exams. In other states, one has better scope than in Calif. and the insurance companies pay well. There are insurances, corporate optometry, internet vendors all trying to take your share of the patient base and degrading the value of optometry in the process.
That being said, change to dentistry.
They seem to have it together. Less outside influence from MD's who are trying to cut OD's scope of practice, more cash procedures, and less dental schools churning out grads who will over saturate the market.
Try another field al together. CPA or Law.
OD school is not what I would want for my kids.

 

[optojake]

Scope matters. In Calif and some other states, we are paid by insurance companies for "routine" eye exams. In other states, one has better scope than in Calif. and the insurance companies pay well. There are insurances, corporate optometry, internet vendors all trying to take your share of the patient base and degrading the value of optometry in the process.
That being said, change to dentistry.
They seem to have it together. Less outside influence from MD's who are trying to cut OD's scope of practice, more cash procedures, and less dental schools churning out grads who will over saturate the market.
Try another field al together. CPA or Law.
OD school is not what I would want for my kids.

lol, yeah because what the world needs more of is lawyers. huge demand for those guys right now...