<p>Could someone please answer my questions regarding this career choice?</p>
<li><p>What is the recommended major for someone that wants to become an optometrist?</p></li>
<li><p>How many years do they have to go to school for? Is it like a regular M.D., where you have to go to school for 8 years, and do some sort of ‘residency’ program for another 2 years?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, and Opticians are all eye care providers whose scopes of practice are defined by the types of training they receive.</p>
<p>An Ophthalmologist is a physician -- an MD or DO -- who has completed a four year undergraduate degree, a four-year medical degree followed by a 1-year internship and 3-year (or more) residency in ophthalmology.</p>
<p>**Ophthalmologists<a href="MD%20or%20DO">/b</a> can:
-- prescribe glasses and contact lenses
-- diagnose eye abnormalities and disease
-- treat all eye conditions and disease, including those of the surrounding flesh, bones, and muscle with surgery (conventional and laser surgery), medications, etc.
-- diagnose other conditions and illnesses based on symptoms evident in the eyes and refer patients to another appropriate physician for treatment
--fit, adjust and dispense eyeglasses</p>
<p>An Optometrist is not a medical doctor, but receives the degree of OD at a 4-year optometry school after completing four (or sometimes three) years of undergraduate study.</p>
<p>**Optometrists<a href="OD">/b</a> can:
-- prescribe glasses and contact lenses
-- diagnose eye abnormalities and disease
-- treat some types of eye disease
-- diagnose other conditions and illnesses based on symptoms evident in the eyes and refer patients to another appropriate physician for treatment
--fit, adjust and dispense eyeglasses</p>
<p>An Optician is a technician who has either earned a 2-year optician degree from a community college or has learned while on the job.</p>
<p>Opticians can:
--fit, adjust and dispense eyeglasses</p>
<p>Can optometrists do minor surgeries, laser surgeries, or intraocular surgeries?</p>
<p>In 49 of 50 states, it is illegal for optometrists to do any of the above. In Oklahoma, because of aggressive optometry lobbying, optometrists (OD) may perform some laser procedures. A recent OK bill will permit OK optometrists to become ophthalmologists with the Optometry Board deciding which surgeries can and cannot be done. This sets a dangerous precedent for a non-surgical specialty to form its own surgical board. In the VA, OK optometrists were performing laser procedures and minor surgeries on veterans. Ophthalmologists must stand together and fight this now and in the future. We should be involved at the state and federal level. Any new optometry surgical bill need to be fought aggressively at the state level. Please give money to your local ophthalmology society, OPHTHPAC, and the new Surgical Scope Fund.</p>
<p>just out of curiosity, why see an optometrist when you can see an opthalmologist. and why see a psychologist instead of a psychiatrist. i'm not saying one way or another is right, i'm just interested.</p>
<p>How much do optometrists get paid compared to opthalmologists?</p>
<p>I think it depends on your field. Eye medicine is very subdivided. A retinal surgeon will make much more than a cataract surgeon for example. In most cases (if not all), ophthalmologists will make more than optometrists.</p>
<p>Basically $300,000 vs $100,000 after a couple of years. </p>
<p>A good website for salaries: pretty accurate, average-wise esp the middle column<br>
<a href="http://www.allied-physicians.com/salary_surveys/physician-salaries.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.allied-physicians.com/salary_surveys/physician-salaries.htm</a></p>
<p>Salary for optometrist <a href="http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_compresult_national_HC07000340.html%5B/url%5D">http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_compresult_national_HC07000340.html</a></p>
<p>What is the lifestyle of a practicing ophthalmologist?
Because most surgeries are now outpatient procedures, most ophthalmologists can adhere to regular clinic hours, e.g. 8 AM - 5 PM. Practices vary, but most will devote 2-3 days per week in clinic and 1-2 days per week for operating time. Call is usually shared among physicians within the practice, and any major traumas or problems usually get referred to a teaching hospital if available.</p>
<p>How much do ophthalmologists make?
This greatly varies depending on the setting you practice in. Academic and military physicians usually make half to two-thirds of what private practicing ophthalmologist can make. If one is in a practice that owns an ambulatory surgical center, then the earning potential is higher because these physicians bill for both the surgery and the use of the surgical center. The answer to this question can be answered here:</p>
<p>What are the different sub-specialties in ophthalmology?</p>
<p>General ophthalmologists can treat the majority of eye diseases medically and surgically. If fellowship training is desired, there are several different sub-specialties including:
- Cataract / General
- Cornea
- Glaucoma
- Lasik / Refractive
- Neuro
- Ocular Pathology
- Oculoplastics
- Pediatric
- Vitreo-retinal</p>
<p>After fellowship, physicians may concentrate solely on their sub-specialty or practice general ophthalmology with an emphasis on their trained sub-specialty. For instance, ocular pathologists usually practice general ophthalmology, perform surgery, and concentrate on pathology.</p>
<p>For more information about the different sub-specialties please visit here:
<a href="http://www.eyemdlink.com/Specialties.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.eyemdlink.com/Specialties.asp</a></p>
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<p>Usually the ophthalmologist and psychiatrist see the more serious/complex cases while the optometrist and psychologist see the simple, mundane cases. Also the optometrist and psychologist, can only see the simple patients while the physicians can see all patients.</p>
<p>Would you guys say that an optometrist is an easier field, versus let's say, a regular family practioner <m.d. doctor="">?</m.d.></p>
<p>You need to complete 4 years of undergraduate schooling, then 4 years of medical school, and then two years of residency. That's like 10 years.</p>
<p>So, an optometrist only has to go to 8 years of schooling, and no residency, right?</p>
<p>Three years of residency for family practice.</p>
<p>As in dentistry, residencies exist but many freshly-minted optometrists do not bother.</p>
<p>So, how many years would an optometrist have to go to school for? I'm still a little bit confused.</p>
<p>
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psychologist see the simple, mundane cases. Also the optometrist and psychologist, can only see the simple patients while the physicians can see all patients.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Certainly not true for psychologist vs psychiatrist. Many psychologists treat patients who are as complex and challenging as exist. The major difference is in methods. Since they are not physicians, psychologists do not have the background in physiology and pharmacology to prescribe medication for diseases. For many of the sickest patients, a combination of medical (psychiatric) and talk therapy (psychology) treatment is used.</p>