vision requirements

[cougarblood]

I am an undergrad student right now looking into optometry school and I need some advice. I have poor vision (aniridia and nystagmus) and have had it my whole life. My best corrected vision after surgery and glasses is about 20/50 to 20/60 in my left eye and slightly worse than 20/100 in my right eye. I have always dreamed of becoming an optometrist or ophthalmologist mostly because I can relate to and understand others with vision difficulties. I am worried about seeing everything I am supposed to be able to see as a future optometrist/ ophthalmologist with my patients (using equipment, performing surgery, etc). I have shadowed one optometrist and he thinks I'd be fine and have no problems. I have also talked to a few people in admissions of some optometry schools and they say there are no vision requirements. I am not sure about ophthalmology though. Before I go through the admissions process I'd like to know if I'd be qualified enough (vision speaking) to be an eye doc. So that's my question. Do any of you have experiences similar to this or know of anybody who has? What are your thoughts and recommendations? Is ophthalmology an option? And are there any specialties of optometry that I should plan on not being able to go into? This is a big decision for me and I'd appreciate thoughtful responses. Thanks.

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[Dysgenics]

I'd say go into Optometry. Some ophthalmology residencies have vision tests and it is becoming more popular. However, I also know of a one-eyed ophthalmologist so it varies. So it really depends, do you want to do surgery or do you want to do medical/vision care? I don't know of any optometry program that has vision requirements.

 

[PBEA]

I am an undergrad student right now looking into optometry school and I need some advice. I have poor vision (aniridia and nystagmus) and have had it my whole life. My best corrected vision after surgery and glasses is about 20/50 to 20/60 in my left eye and slightly worse than 20/100 in my right eye. I have always dreamed of becoming an optometrist or ophthalmologist mostly because I can relate to and understand others with vision difficulties. I am worried about seeing everything I am supposed to be able to see as a future optometrist/ ophthalmologist with my patients (using equipment, performing surgery, etc). I have shadowed one optometrist and he thinks I'd be fine and have no problems. I have also talked to a few people in admissions of some optometry schools and they say there are no vision requirements. I am not sure about ophthalmology though. Before I go through the admissions process I'd like to know if I'd be qualified enough (vision speaking) to be an eye doc. So that's my question. Do any of you have experiences similar to this or know of anybody who has? What are your thoughts and recommendations? Is ophthalmology an option? And are there any specialties of optometry that I should plan on not being able to go into? This is a big decision for me and I'd appreciate thoughtful responses. Thanks.

I dont think ophtho is a good idea with that vision, opto may be doable but I wouldnt want to do it with that vision. There may be no requirements for opto but I'd think you would be at significant disadvatage with 20/50ish best corrected. imho

 

[Obadaden]

You could do optometry and try for a residency in Low Vision (seeing patients with significant loss of vision). I know of one optometrist in Colorado Springs specializing in Low Vision after he himself suffered severe vision impairment.

From his site http://www.lowvision.org/lvs_sc.htm :

"THE LOW VISION SPECIALIST:
Thomas W. Theune, OD, graduated from Indiana University, School of Optometry, and practiced clinical optometry in Colorado Springs for seven years. After experiencing his own vision loss, Dr. Theune has chosen to specialize in the field of low vision. The combination of optometric education, years of clinical and low vision experience, and empathy of vision loss creates a unique perspective in providing excellent low vision care."

 

[Blondiechick919]

As a current Opto student I have to tell you that it would be extremely difficult. Using slit lamp requires good depth perception which you likely aren't getting with that VA, and you also need to be able to perform skills like BIO and retinoscopy which involve looking at small lights inside your patient's pupil from at least an arms distance away. It's hard enough when you are 20/20. I would have an updated eye exam with your current OD, mention your interest in optometry school, and see what he/she thinks.

 

[20DOC20]

You need to have a best-corrected vision of at least 20/20 in one eye in order to practice optometry. In order to see microanerysms or tiny drusen or subtle folds in the internal limiting membrane, you need excellent acuity. I have best corrected acuity of 20/15+3 in each eye and the ability to fuse stereoscopically in all the diagnostic instruments: Slit-lamp, BIO, etc...

You would be a danger to your patients with best-corrected vision of 20/50 or 20/60. You need HD vision (in at least one eye) to be an OD.

Maybe you could pursue a career in occupational therapy for the blind? Or some sort of career helping the visually disabled. That would be very rewarding and you could empathize well with such a patient population.

I send you my best regards!

 

[itek2OD]

To be even more specific this document on pgs 6-13 ( especially pg 6 and 7) mention the standards required to learn optometry in OD school. You may want to ask an admission counselor what you can do....

http://www.opted.org/files/public/Admission_Requirements_09-10.pdf

But as the above posters mentioned: your VAs don't appear encouraging for OD school - definitely get an OD's (even better an low vision OD's) opinion.

You could work for optometrists/ophthalmologists as an optometric/ophthalmic tech or get a PhD in vision science. There are other options.

Cheers,