why doesn't the public know what 'optometry school' is?

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people seem to think that optometry school comes after high school, and they still cannot believe that it is 4 years. is it just 'optometry school' that confuses people, or do people not even realize that 'optometrists' are eye drs? could it be the same way with dentistry/pharmacy, or is there a special lack of knowledge when it comes to optometry?

 

[4Eyes]

Yeah, that's frustrating. Most people I've talked to are fairly quick to catch on that optometry school comes after undergrad, but they are always shocked to learn that it's 4 years instead of 2.

What's more annoying to me is when I say I'm in optometry school and they reply, "Ohhh, why aren't you going to be an ophthalmologist?" 😛

 

[HOLLYWOOD]

most people don't know what an optometrist is. they do know what a dentist is b/c dentistry as done a better job of educating the public. i think the aoa is afraid of ophthalmology.

 

[still_confused]

I went to a well educated nutritionist today and she didn't even know that optometrists were doctors! 😱

what is a nutritionist??

 

[sniklegem]

i think the aoa is afraid of ophthalmology.

What your basis for saying this? Please elaborate.

 

[Hines302]

most people don't know what an optometrist is. they do know what a dentist is b/c dentistry as done a better job of educating the public. i think the aoa is afraid of ophthalmology.

http://www.aoa.org/x5878.xml

- Ask and you shall recieve. 😀 (The video takes a minute to load)

 

[JAZZEYE]

M.D. ?
Technician ?
O.D. ?
It seems Optometrist have an identity crisis with the public.
And the AOA calls it....the imagination of the " vocal minority "
on ODwire.org which often does go over board in their assesments.

I think more people than not think we're some kind of M.D.s ....hence the animosity from OMD.s

I don't believe in conspiracy theories that O.D.s on ODwire throw out there, like the AOA is in line with Commercial business and Schools,
or that the OP suggests their afraid of Opthamology.
But they need some real leadership.....now!
IMO a lot has to do with the fact that the profession is so much involved with retail , which is not a critique , just a fact !
Personally I think you can Looove Optometry and want to make money in retail too... but ,
AOA should prioritize the Eye Health Care aspects of the profession so that Optometrist are viewed as more than just refractors and eye glass peddlers.
The argument is they have done this in recent years.... just not well enough.
In all fairness Optometrist individually must also take responsiblity for educating the public.

Who cares ????????? You should !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[still_confused]

who cares? educated people if they bring it up otherwise, do your job and do it well.

 

[NutritionistRD]

Hey, Im a nutritionist -- 99.9999% of us know what optometrists are!

 

[asmaka19]

people seem to think that optometry school comes after high school, and they still cannot believe that it is 4 years. is it just 'optometry school' that confuses people, or do people not even realize that 'optometrists' are eye drs? could it be the same way with dentistry/pharmacy, or is there a special lack of knowledge when it comes to optometry?

Yea.....some of my friends don't know what an optometrist is when I tell them I wanted to be one, the ones that are educated enough might ask why I don't want to be an opthamologist. Or sometimes when I tell people I changed my mind about med school and want to be an optometrist the response is "there's a separate school for that?" One friend asked if that's like being a doctor assistant.

it doesn't bother me though, I think it's funny! The funniest is trying to explain optometry to my dad-like a typical immigrant father he only thinks there's two possible options after college: MD and PhD.

 

[coppertopdoc]

Yea.....some of my friends don't know what an optometrist is when I tell them I wanted to be one, the ones that are educated enough might ask why I don't want to be an opthamologist. Or sometimes when I tell people I changed my mind about med school and want to be an optometrist the response is "there's a separate school for that?" One friend asked if that's like being a doctor assistant.

it doesn't bother me though, I think it's funny! The funniest is trying to explain optometry to my dad-like a typical immigrant father he only thinks there's two possible options after college: MD and PhD.

I have been in practice for 10 years and I am tired of fighting the perception/scope/legislative battles. I have to explain to my own mother what it is I do over and over again! My own grandparents wouldn't come to me as patients because they only believed an OMD could provide care for their eyes.

I have grown so weary that I have lost any zeal (very limited) I ever had about the optometric profession. I have friends that go to med school and then there is no confusion in the public arena as to what they do. They don't have to fight others attacking their scope of practice.

I practice in the IHS and deal with a lot of pathology and I am tired of inheriting patients from other O.D.'s that supposedly know what they are doing. After my exam, I determine they either don't know or what they are doing is wrong. For example, steroids on herpetic keratitis, maxitrol on a pseudomonas ulcer, pigmentary (3+ K-spindles OU) glaucoma with large nasal steps and pressures of 26 (visit with O.D. every year for past 20 years and IOP of 14? 1 month prior to my visit). I could go on for quite a while, but I'll spare you because i am sure you get my drift.

What does that do for our image? With patients and other medical professionals? At least these showed up in my office and I took care of them instead of them ending up in an OMD's office! Those are the patient visit that helps them formulate their opinion of us and add fuel to the fire of why we don't know what we are doing.

I cannot honestly tell any prospective students that I would go into optometry. It's not worth it even if you enjoy the patient contact and the feeling that you are making a difference. I told my son and daughter to go to medical or dental school. Maybe I'll go with them!

 

[DrMom]

people seem to think that optometry school comes after high school, and they still cannot believe that it is 4 years. is it just 'optometry school' that confuses people, or do people not even realize that 'optometrists' are eye drs? could it be the same way with dentistry/pharmacy, or is there a special lack of knowledge when it comes to optometry?

Heck, they don't even understand what medical school is. I've had people think it is anything from med tech, to nursing assistant, to nursing school. Unfortunately, the general public is way misinformed about all areas of medicine, including you guys.

 

[4Eyes]

Yeah, I've already given up trying to explain to my mother-in-law that it's not necessary to go to OD/OMD every other year (she alternates). Not only is it pointless for annual exam/no pathology, it 1) makes it hard to monitor any changes, and 2) like an OMD really wants to mess with a PC exam. Oh yeah and it's kind of insulting too.

But whatever. 🙂

 

[asmaka19]

COPPERTOPDOC-Well although I'm not an optometrist I totally disagree with your POV, I don't think that public confusion and negative image is reason enough to regret your profession unless you're trying to win a grammy or something; knowing my personality those factors will be the LEAST of my concerns. I'm a former pre-med and have a few doctors in the family and LOTS of friends that are in medical school/residency and I've shadowed MDs and ODs and I'm am soooooooooooooo happy with my decision to switch from pre-med to pre-opto, I don't don't care that I sometimes have to explain to people what optometry is. I don't understand what a stock broker is exactly, does that undermine the success and prestige of the profession?? NO and I'll probably be needing one's services one day

The optometrists that I shadow are very happy with what they're doing- I guess the see the glass half full and you just see it as half empty

 

[Oculomotor]

I have a family with medical doctors, dentists, and surgeons. I will be the first eye doctor (optometric physician). I worked in optometry for the last 2 years, currently attend optometry school, and I will state this with conviction, most people in the public believe that optometrists and ophthalmologists are eye doctors and have no clue what the difference is. Most believe that optometrists went to medical school (because they call them Dr. so and so O.D.). The state I will be practicing in a few years from now the broad scope allows me to Rx contacts, glasses, oral medications, topical medications, perform minor surgical procedures (ie foreign body removal..etc), and do injectables. Most patients who undergo these procedures understand that their "eye doctor" performs them and not some low level tech. I am proud to be an optometry student and chose it over osteopathic medicine, dentistry, and podiatry in a nanosecond although all of those are great fields as well. Be proud that you are becoming an eye doctor OD or if you already are I applaud you. People need to stop complaining and putting forth negative attitudes about what I feel is the best medical field out there. 😉

If you think positive you will succeed if you do not, then you will fail miserably.

 

[JAZZEYE]

Wow ! 2 positive posts in a row 👍
Where did that come from ?
Way too much negativity on SDN.
I hope some of the Docs will consider that students taking $160K in student loans ...know its gonna be rough....they really don't need to hear "Optometry sucks I should have been a Dentist" ,while they are struggling through Optometry school....there is nothing helpful in that.
Please find another place to whine....
Now... if you want to point out some of the difficulties that lie ahead and warn that its perilous
for the unprepared to enter into Optometry.... OK .
But to come on a student doctor network and bash your profession like some do is shameful !
I thought this was a forum for students to exchange ideas and Doctors to offer some advice.
I didn't realize this is a place for an Optometrist 10 years out to vent " My mother doesn't understand what I do and how important I am " ......give us a break !

 

[4Eyes]

I don't regret my choice to become an optometrist by any means. Generally speaking, the confusion is not so much upsetting as it is amusing. Or just neutral...when they ask, I explain what it is. I don't want my posts to come across as being really negative. :-/

 

[KHE]

If you think positive you will succeed if you do not, then you will fail miserably.

*sigh*

(shakes head in disbelief)

 

[still_confused]

*sigh*

(shakes head in disbelief)

thinking negatively will be help you succeed instead?

 

[KHE]

thinking negatively will be help you succeed instead?

I don't know how many more times I can say this.....

Obviously, it is more helpful to think positively than negatively.

However, it seems that more and more students and prosepctive students are of the mindset that if they just "work hard" and "think positively" then success is assured. IT'S NOT!

During my tenure teaching high school, I observed that it seemed like we are raising a generation of students who think that simply writing down their lifes goals and putting them on the refrigerator is somehow magically going to make it happen.

Positive thinking, and hard work are NOT ENOUGH! At least not in optometry because many of the important issues that stand in your way of success as an optometrist are NOT anything that you have control over and they will NOT be overcome by "working hard" and having a "positive attitude".

That is why it is so important for people to understand what these issues are so that they can be mitigated by the time they graduate. God Almighty, how many more times do I have to say this???

 

[still_confused]

! At least not in optometry because many of the important issues that stand in your way of success as an optometrist are NOT anything that you have control over and they will NOT be overcome by "working hard" and having a "positive attitude".

yes i get you but if we have no control over it why cant we as student right now just educate ourselves on the issues, work hard, and have a positive attitude?

if anything this forum is all about feeling bad about the profession, if we cannot have a positive attitude how can we bring about the change necessary for our success? graduating a bunch of disinterested and gloomy optometry students isnt going to make the profession any better.

what you say is important, but it seems like you think everyone is super naiive. the issues are there, the hurdles need to be overcome, but in order to keep sanity on this forum, we need to make it more positive.

and of course, to make this inline with the optometry forum mantra and avoid a positive post... "i wish i went to dentistry school instead"

 

[eyestrain]

He's not saying that you can't be optimistic and work hard, its just that a lot of people seem to think that's all it takes. The issue comes up repeatedly in the GPA discussions where people continue to think that drive and determination mean everything and GPA means nothing.

 

[JAZZEYE]

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”

Buddha quote

C'mon KHE I thought you were down with the Buddhaesk......

 

[JAZZEYE]

delete copy

 

[KHE]

yes i get you but if we have no control over it why cant we as student right now just educate ourselves on the issues, work hard, and have a positive attitude?

That's all fine and dandy, but I believe that the person who posted the comment saying that everything will turn out fine as long as you think positively has not only NOT done the research they need to be doing but they are potentially on the road to a HUGE let down.

if anything this forum is all about feeling bad about the profession, if we cannot have a positive attitude how can we bring about the change necessary for our success? graduating a bunch of disinterested and gloomy optometry students isnt going to make the profession any better.

That's true...but graduating a bunch of excited students who are just rip rarrin' to go and then have them get slammed in the face is really no better because all that does is make people bitter and disillusioned.

what you say is important, but it seems like you think everyone is super naiive. the issues are there, the hurdles need to be overcome, but in order to keep sanity on this forum, we need to make it more positive.

The reason that I feel that way is because so very little in the postings here make me think that so many of the students and prospective students on here ARE anything other than super naive.

and of course, to make this inline with the optometry forum mantra and avoid a positive post... "i wish i went to dentistry school instead"

I for one have never wished I was a dentist.

And again guys....I'm not trying to be Donald Downer here. I'm happy being an OD again. I own a great practice and I make great money. I just want you to know what lays ahead of you so you don't fall into the traps that so many people do. (myself included)

And the thing is... I KNOW that there are people out there reading my postings with a fair amount of doubt in their minds. They're thinking "Yeah..there must be something wrong with that guy. I'm not going to be like him. I'm going to work hard, and be positive, and impress my patients by doing an incredibly thorough exam and they'll love me and want to fall over themselves to send me patients." I KNOW you are out there thinking that because I thought that way once too. Disavow yourselves of that notion, my friends.

Please read THE WAY IT IS SERIES that I have posted on here. I'm going to be adding some more parts to that because the first three seem to be very well received.

 

[Oogilily]

I'm glad you're doing the way it is series, because so far I hear everybody complaining about the issues, but I have no idea what the issues are! I think the original issues are so far buried in argument, that I have no idea what we are arguing about anymore. I would like a heads up on what to expect after optometry school, it would be helpful. I know I'm in the right place, because even after learning about some of the crap in optometry, I'm still excited about it and know that it is good for ME (although maybe not good for others). Anyways, thanks for writing a series that makes things a little more plain for us "newbies".

 

[coppertopdoc]

First of all - If you can't take comments about perceptions of some in practice without saying that I am trying to win a grammy then don't read them!

I always see the glass as half full! I was just trying to convey sentiments that have been expressed by myself and many of my local colleagues. this was in hopes to give a different perpsective about what to expect upon graduation because school does NOT prepare you realistically about what practice is like!

I am not saying you cannot be happy in optometric practice!

I read many posts on SDN in different forums that are both pro and con. you should absorb the the thoughts and make your own decision.

I do find it interesting that pre-optometry students know better than those in practice!

 

[JAZZEYE]

I have been in practice for 10 years and I am tired of fighting the perception/scope/legislative battles. I have to explain to my own mother what it is I do over and over again! My own grandparents wouldn't come to me as patients because they only believed an OMD could provide care for their eyes.
"I always see the glass as half full!"

I have grown so weary that I have lost any zeal (very limited) I ever had about the optometric profession. I have friends that go to med school and then there is no confusion in the public arena as to what they do. They don't have to fight others attacking their scope of practice.
"I always see the glass as half full! "

I cannot honestly tell any prospective students. It's not worth it even if you enjoy the patient contact and the feeling that you are making a difference. I told my son and daughter to go to medical or dental school. Maybe I'll go with them!
" I always see the glass as half full!"

Thanks for clearing that up Doc ! Any Dental school recommendations .

 

[coppertopdoc]

I always see the glass as half full!

My comments were meant to be a REALISTIC view about my PERSONAL experience.

There is a difference between seeing the glass as half full and being realistic. Seeing the glass as half full means making the best of the situation in which you find yourself, which I try to do on a daily basis. I am also a realistic person and believe you can still express comments on your perspective about any situation without negating any positives.

I don't believe seeing the glass as half full is trying to paint some rosy picture while ignoring difficulties, problems or challenges faced in any situation. If anyone does that I think they will be disappointed in the long run.

Based upon your posts, you have been very critical of anyone who expresses an opinion other than yours. If you will review the other posts I think other people have extended you the opportunity to express your opinion without dissecting them and being critical. Also, you didn't address my concern with your comment about me thinking myself to be IMPORTANT! Hmmmmmm.

I wish you the best in your journey!

 

[coppertopdoc]

Thanks for clearing that up Doc ! Any Dental school recommendations .

That is the most MATURE thing I have seen you post!?!?!?!

 

[JAZZEYE]

Sorry Doc,
I didn't intend to get so personal but I hope you understand how comments like these can get a student really burned up .

"It's not worth it even if you enjoy the patient contact and the feeling that you are making a difference. I told my son and daughter to go to medical or dental school. Maybe I'll go with them".

I just don't get...what are you trying to accomplish with a statement like that in an Optometry Student Doctor Network. You would be better off in another field implies quit before you start.....doesn't it ?

 

[still_confused]

your kids must be so proud of their dad, so much pride in his work!!

 

[eyestrain]

your kids must be so proud of their dad, so much pride in his work!!

That was a pretty crappy thing to say.

 

[coppertopdoc]

your kids must be so proud of their dad, so much pride in his work!!

I would have to agree with eyestrain's comment about your statement!

My kids happen to be very proud of me and I take excellent care of patients. I have had a realistic conversation with them and helped them explore future opportunities. I simply told them that knowing what I know now I think they would be better off in another health care field if that's what they should choose to do.

I stated in another post, but I think appropriate here:

That's most mature thing I've seen you post!?!?!?!

Maybe I should adopt your tactic of being critical when you don't agree with someone's opinion?👎

 

[asmaka19]

First of all - If you can't take comments about perceptions of some in practice without saying that I am trying to win a grammy then don't read them!

I always see the glass as half full! I was just trying to convey sentiments that have been expressed by myself and many of my local colleagues. this was in hopes to give a different perpsective about what to expect upon graduation because school does NOT prepare you realistically about what practice is like!

I am not saying you cannot be happy in optometric practice!

I read many posts on SDN in different forums that are both pro and con. you should absorb the the thoughts and make your own decision.

I do find it interesting that pre-optometry students know better than those in practice!

I take comments just fine, and that was my response to you!!! So obviously you're the one that can't take responses!!

You said you were stating your personal opinion based on your experience or whatever and that we should merely absorb the thoughts and make our own decision, BUT you ended your initial post by saying you would tell prospective students (US!) that you wouldn't go into optometry and you tell your kids to go to med or dental because there's no confusion about what they do (which is why I felt the need to respond)..........that's contradiction

Noone is trying to paint a rosy situation of a reality with difficulties, we're not naive we understand there's battles but your entire negative post was based on your regret of going into the field due to society's perception and public confusion-you complained about nothing else! So in my opinion that's pretty unprofessional of a professional unless you're in the entertainment business!

You have patients right? so just worry about what they think of you! Why would you care about what your neighbor's grandmother's sister's niece thinks you do for a living?

As prospective OD students we greatly appreciate any guidance, advice, stories from practicing optometrists-we wanna hear about the good and the bad, but I think I can speak for most pre-optos when I say we're not interested in listening to an optometrist's rant who regrets going into optometry and his/her primary complaint is the public's confusion about what optometry is, it's seriously annoying

I've recently started reading these forums and I've noticed that the common complaints are debt, challenges with opening up a practice, having to take on more than one job, legal restrictions on practice, issurance issues, but based on your initial post your mainly worried about your image!

you're right, you should have gone into something else

 

[blazenmadison]

I have grown so weary that I have lost any zeal (very limited) I ever had about the optometric profession. I have friends that go to med school and then there is no confusion in the public arena as to what they do. They don't have to fight others attacking their scope of practice.

I cannot honestly tell any prospective students that I would go into optometry. It's not worth it even if you enjoy the patient contact and the feeling that you are making a difference. I told my son and daughter to go to medical or dental school. Maybe I'll go with them!

Consider taking some pre-reqs at a local cc. Take the MCAT and apply to medical school. Don't die regretting what you always wanted to be. It's not too late. One less OD to compete with!

 

[coppertopdoc]

I take comments just fine, and that was my response to you!!! So obviously you're the one that can't take responses!!

You said you were stating your personal opinion based on your experience or whatever and that we should merely absorb the thoughts and make our own decision, BUT you ended your initial post by saying you would tell prospective students (US!) that you wouldn't go into optometry and you tell your kids to go to med or dental because there's no confusion about what they do (which is why I felt the need to respond)..........that's contradiction

Noone is trying to paint a rosy situation of a reality with difficulties, we're not naive we understand there's battles but your entire negative post was based on your regret of going into the field due to society's perception and public confusion-you complained about nothing else! So in my opinion that's pretty unprofessional of a professional unless you're in the entertainment business!

You have patients right? so just worry about what they think of you! Why would you care about what your neighbor's grandmother's sister's niece thinks you do for a living?

As prospective OD students we greatly appreciate any guidance, advice, stories from practicing optometrists-we wanna hear about the good and the bad, but I think I can speak for most pre-optos when I say we're not interested in listening to an optometrist's rant who regrets going into optometry and his/her primary complaint is the public's confusion about what optometry is, it's seriously annoying

I've recently started reading these forums and I've noticed that the common complaints are debt, challenges with opening up a practice, having to take on more than one job, legal restrictions on practice, issurance issues, but based on your initial post your mainly worried about your image!

you're right, you should have gone into something else

I am glad you feel the need to immaturely lash out at me. The reason that I focused my comments on the public's perception of the PROFESSION -- NOT ME as an individual is because that fit along the same lines of the original post about the public perception of what optometry school is!!! I was simply trying to give another perspective from the practice side of things!

Based on the tone of your response I am not the one who can't "take" responses. Tactful responses are different than basically attacking someone you don't know much about. Which is why I refrain from such!

It seems to be somewhat of a recurrent theme that everyone says they want the good and the bad, but really want only the info that fits into their comfort level! Heaven forbid that there might be someone who expresses an opinion outside the box!

If the original post mentioned all those other things you listed then i would have addressed those. I have experienced all of those things as well since graduation.

Thanks for your support of my choice of profession!

 

[JAZZEYE]

deleted

 

[still_confused]

Consider taking some pre-reqs at a local cc. Take the MCAT and apply to medical school. Don't die regretting what you always wanted to be. It's not too late. One less OD to compete with!

no med school would want him

 

[SearchSquad]

no med school would want him

man oh man have i seen you post some nasty things. come on, bring out your sensitive side...

 

[eyestrain]

HUH.....coppertopdoc you just ain't gettin it !

Your self centered, and insecure and want everyone brought down to your level... so that it makes you feel not so bad.
But asmaka19 and I our the new breed who will not accept your rhetoric of Optometry being "a boring profession" "unrecognized profession"... just because you are personally unfulfilled in your perception or whatever the f#*k

You* don't* belong* on* this* student* doctor* network.... go somewhere else and spread your disease!
We're not having it from you or nobody. There is a difference between discussing unfavorable professional issues and bashing this noble profession.

Yea,Yea... I know your not saying you can't be happy in Optometry "you just wouldn't want your kids going in it and you'd like to get out if you knew how "

We welcome the opinoins of KHE , posner , cpw and others wether we agree with them or not they are pushing us forward !

You are a pityful want to be MD and thats Ok....go to med school ( don't let the wife stop you ) or just get some therapy but don't belittle our dreams here in this network and expect silence from this new breed.

And please don't ever faceitiously wish me the best in my journey.

"If you ain't part of the solution your part of the problem"

You're (or should I say "Your") either drunk or you have incredibly bad grammar. Either way, that post is a rambling piece of nonsense.

 

[jc812]

This thread has gotten way out of hand.

 

[blazenmadison]

Sometimes we can get into heated debates. Let's all agree to disagree and leave the insults elsewhere.

 

[JAZZEYE]

You're (or should I say "Your") either drunk or you have incredibly bad grammar. Either way, that post is a rambling piece of nonsense.

LOL

 

[4Eyes]

Sometimes we can get into heated debates. Let's all agree to disagree and leave the insults elsewhere.

Agreed.

If some of these pre-opts and OD students have the same sense of tact (or lack thereof) IRL as they do online...they're going to have a hard time being successful in practice. This thread is disappointing.

Just sayin'

 

[still_confused]

Agreed.

If some of these pre-opts and OD students have the same sense of tact (or lack thereof) IRL as they do online...they're going to have a hard time being successful in practice. This thread is disappointing.

Just sayin'

TACT? screw that, ill do anything to defend my profession.

and sensitive? people come here to bash and disgrace my profession under the guise of "reality checks". what do you guys want a parade?

 

[4Eyes]

I generally try to stay out of threads that degenerate like this. But seriously.

And I didn't call out any names, and I wouldn't, but since you replied....

Please do defend the profession. That is welcomed and appreciated. But this is not it.

 

[ProZackMI]

people seem to think that optometry school comes after high school, and they still cannot believe that it is 4 years. is it just 'optometry school' that confuses people, or do people not even realize that 'optometrists' are eye drs? could it be the same way with dentistry/pharmacy, or is there a special lack of knowledge when it comes to optometry?

I'm not sure how old you are, kid, but as you live more life you will realize that the "general public" has the collective intelligence quotient of an undigested piece of corn that passes through the bowel and ends up being potty flotsam.

Your "average" American smokes, drinks, learns medicine from ER, Scrubs, and House; thinks Law and Order and Boston Legal are true models of American Justice, and believe "reality TV" is way cool! Your average American actually cares what Lindsay Lohan and Brittany Spears are doing and actually think Paris Hilton is...someone important!

So, does it really surprise you to learn that John Q. Public believes optometrists, pharmacists, and lawyers all take a "few classes" to get their specialized training? You'd be surprised how many people are surprised law is a doctoral program or that pharmacy involves complicated medical stuff! 😱

Sorry...just my jaded two cents on the "Average Joe".

 

[ProZackMI]

I have a family with medical doctors, dentists, and surgeons. I will be the first eye doctor (optometric physician). I worked in optometry for the last 2 years, currently attend optometry school, and I will state this with conviction, most people in the public believe that optometrists and ophthalmologists are eye doctors and have no clue what the difference is. Most believe that optometrists went to medical school (because they call them Dr. so and so O.D.). The state I will be practicing in a few years from now the broad scope allows me to Rx contacts, glasses, oral medications, topical medications, perform minor surgical procedures (ie foreign body removal..etc), and do injectables. Most patients who undergo these procedures understand that their "eye doctor" performs them and not some low level tech. I am proud to be an optometry student and chose it over osteopathic medicine, dentistry, and podiatry in a nanosecond although all of those are great fields as well. Be proud that you are becoming an eye doctor OD or if you already are I applaud you. People need to stop complaining and putting forth negative attitudes about what I feel is the best medical field out there. 😉

If you think positive you will succeed if you do not, then you will fail miserably.

Removing a FB is NOT minor surgery. I'm sorry, but it's not. Period. End of story. A nurse or CNA can remove FB from the skin, etc., and this is not surgery. Unless you live in OK, you cannot perform anything close to surgery as an OD.

 

[PBEA]

Sorry...just my jaded two cents on the "Average Joe".

Ahhh, I just love to hear someone stomp the last grey cell from the common man. Your words are pure poetry, you are welcome in this forum anytime.