Would you do it all again? Plz help.

[woodthegreat]

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I am currently interviewing with optometry schools. My question is, knowing what you do now, would you still take the path to become an optometrist? I have some questions I would like to answer for myself and your responses will be greatly valued. Thank you.

 

[Dr Gump]

I am currently interviewing with optometry schools. My question is, knowing what you do now, would you still take the path to become an optometrist? I have some questions I would like to answer for myself and your responses will be greatly valued. Thank you.

Yes, I would do it all over again. This is my second career in the medical field and it is filled with opportunity. You just can't sit in your box and think someone else will fix things for you.

The scope of Optometry is perfect for me. It allows me to do everything that I enjoy and am trained to do.

The opportunities are there...just not in larger cities. You have to move out into areas an hour or so from larger cities. These are nice places to live and you can prosper.

Good luck with your choice and PM me if you have other questions.

Dr. Gump

 

[IndianaOD]

I am currently interviewing with optometry schools. My question is, knowing what you do now, would you still take the path to become an optometrist? I have some questions I would like to answer for myself and your responses will be greatly valued. Thank you.

I like the actual day to day career of optometry, I just don't like where we are going at this current time.

If I was back in pre-med I would probably go into dentistry. You can make more working less and have much less insurance headaches.

 

[r_salis]

If I was back in pre-med I would probably go into dentistry. You can make more working less and have much less insurance headaches.

I agree that dentistry is more lucrative with less insurance hassle, but I just wouldn't enjoy hanging out in patients' mouths all day. Money is important -- don't get me wrong -- but it's just as important to enjoy what you do day-to-day.

 

[booger11]

I am currently interviewing with optometry schools. My question is, knowing what you do now, would you still take the path to become an optometrist? I have some questions I would like to answer for myself and your responses will be greatly valued. Thank you.

Absolutely

 

[hawkster]

I would not do it again. I would have gone to medical school. I probably would not have gone into ophthalmology but I would have had more choices and I feel that it would have been more rewarding for myself. I have found optometry to be quite boring and too much of a retail centered profession.

 

[SimpleS]

I've already been accepted to an optometry school, But I am seriously considering ophthalmology. Here's my issue: I'm in my late 20's, if I decide to go into MD school I would have to wait 'til 2009 to enter, as opposed to 2008 in optometry. I'm not exactly sure how it works after MD school to become specialized in ophthalmology, but ball-park estimate is probably another 4 yrs after MD, which will put me in my mid 30s to practice as an OMD. Another problem I have is, after MD, is it pretty easy to attain a residency in ophthalmology? Because I know I only want to deal with the eyes. Should I risk going to MD school and finding out opthalmology residencies aren't as easy to attain as I would like and be stuck with a general MD? Or should I go the really long, but thorough route and attain an OD/MD and be in my late 30s to practice as an OMD, BUT...be a well rounded eye specialist with my combined degrees? HELP! I'm very ambitious and I just want to reach my max potential! Any advice will help!!! 😱😕😀

 

[eyepoker]

I think Ophthalmology residencies are pretty hard to get, you have to do research and stuff to prove you want to go into that field, and you do the regular 4 yr residency and plus usually another 2 yr of fellowship for retina or cornea or what not...so 10yrs after you get into med school.

 

[coppertopdoc]

I've already been accepted to an optometry school, But I am seriously considering ophthalmology. Here's my issue: I'm in my late 20's, if I decide to go into MD school I would have to wait 'til 2009 to enter, as opposed to 2008 in optometry. I'm not exactly sure how it works after MD school to become specialized in ophthalmology, but ball-park estimate is probably another 4 yrs after MD, which will put me in my mid 30s to practice as an OMD. Another problem I have is, after MD, is it pretty easy to attain a residency in ophthalmology? Because I know I only want to deal with the eyes. Should I risk going to MD school and finding out opthalmology residencies aren't as easy to attain as I would like and be stuck with a general MD? Or should I go the really long, but thorough route and attain an OD/MD and be in my late 30s to practice as an OMD, BUT...be a well rounded eye specialist with my combined degrees? HELP! I'm very ambitious and I just want to reach my max potential! Any advice will help!!! 😱😕😀

I would say that I would not do it again. I should have followed my original plan to go to medical school.

Ophthalmology residencies are not easy to get. I know several OD/MD's and they feel that the experience as an OD helped get the Oph. residency.

I know another OD that went to med school and she is doing a surgery residency. She says that you should go into med school with an open mind because another specialty may catch your fancy. If you are still set on OMD then you can head that direction as well.

Based on your comments, it sounds like age is a bit of a factor. Don't let your age get in the way. I feel strongly that medicine will help you reach your max potential. I feel like optometry is underchallenging.

My .02 FWIW.

 

[IndianaOD]

I think Ophthalmology residencies are pretty hard to get, you have to do research and stuff to prove you want to go into that field, and you do the regular 4 yr residency and plus usually another 2 yr of fellowship for retina or cornea or what not...so 10yrs after you get into med school.

Getting into Ophth isn't that hard. Look at the stats, there is over an 80% match.

 

[vtrain]

As an OD who went back to medical school and has just matched into ophthalmology, I can honestly say it has been worth it for me. No doubts there were many times during my medical training that I questioned my decision though. I too will be in my mid-30s when I am done with fellowship and able to practice. I looked at it this way: I'll be 35 no matter if I stayed with optometry or if I continued on with an MD. I knew I would grow tired of solely opotmetris practice and wished for a greater variety and a more comprehensive level of care for my patients. Coupled with a genuine interest to learn more, I decided to go on. This is what fueld my desire to pursure more training. You have to carefully ask yourself why you want to be an opto vs and ophtho - both are GREAT professions but are markedly different. If you train in opto and then go get your MD, that is a longer way, but you definitely will be a more comprehensive ophthalmologist as residency training in optics/refraction is lacking from what Ive seen so far. I wouldn't let the age distract you. Also, I can say that if you are an optometrist applying for ophthalmology residency you will have a distinct advantage for the most part. And, as mentioned above if you do decide to pursue an MD after opto, keep an open mind, medicine is enormous and you could find something that you like more than eyes. I nearly went into IM, as cardiology fascinated me. It was definitely a tough decision come application time.

 

[SimpleS]

So now that you've earned both degrees, do you have any regrets about NOT immediately going to MD school? Or are you completely happy about initially earning your OD before MD? Is it really a distinct and significant advantage to have the OD when applying for Ophthalmology matches? I am really leaning towards the long road, only because I would really love to be a very comprehensive eye specialist 🙂.

Does anyone know if the Military offers ophthalmology residencies? Is it worth it to do a military residency after MD? I don't know exactly how it works, but I think it would be awesome if I can get them to pay for my MD while I'm serving my time with them and getting my internship/residency experience out of the way plus getting paid as an officer? 🙄 But again, I'm not familiar with this process and have no idea of my ideas are plausible 😳.

Any advice is again very much appreciated!😀

 

[alferec]

Does anyone know if the Military offers ophthalmology residencies? Is it worth it to do a military residency after MD? I don't know exactly how it works, but I think it would be awesome if I can get them to pay for my MD while I'm serving my time with them and getting my internship/residency experience out of the way plus getting paid as an officer? 🙄 But again, I'm not familiar with this process and have no idea of my ideas are plausible 😳.

Any advice is again very much appreciated!😀

Absolutely, the military does have opthalmology residencies. However the problem is you'll not only be competing for a residency slot, you'll also have to deal with the military's needs over yours. In other words, if the military doesn't need as many ophthalmologists at the time you apply for residency, then you're SOL. Another factor is what branch of the military you're looking at. The Army has different needs from the Navy, and same with the Air Force, etc. Bottom line: the military has no guarantees.

And would I do it all over again? It's sad, but I think about that all the time. It seems that MDs have so much more going for them. The opportunities for MDs seem limitless and the law seems to favor them much more. But for ODs - the limits seem more heavily held back by the law and ODs always have to fight for our practicing scope. But on the same token, MDs have to deal with even more insurance BS than optometrists (well as far as I know, please correct me if I'm wrong), therefore reduce the amount of quality patient time they give. So overall, I really don't know what's going to happen to optometry in the coming years, or if I will be truly happy with my profession, but I made a commitment and I have to go with it. I wish I can say that the future will be bright and prosperous, but just read the other posts here in SDN...lots of them make future of optometry seem pretty dismal, sadly.

 

[hello07]

As a practicing optometrist for 15 years i have enjoyed this profession. Optometry is a wonderful preofession where you truly help and can make a difference in people's lives. You need to keep up with CE and all recent trends in the field as in all medical fields. However, if I had to do it over again, knowing what I know now, I would taken my MCAT's, apply and hopefully get into Med school (I had a 3.28 science gpa undergrade with 3.48 non science undergrad gap) and then who knows if I would have gotten into any of the lucrative and tough sub specialties like ophth being one of them?
Optometry is a easy profession if you are good and know what you are doing. it's like flying a plane on automatic. You get paid decent for the type of work you do again depending on the setting, pt load. and etc........
A physician is more MARKETABLE and has a lot more opprotunities than an OD. I would aim higher and become something more than an optometrist. You will have a greater advantage in providing total eye care for your patientce as an MD than an OD.