<p>I have been swaying between the two for a while now. Please help me decide, I am in Georgia if you could please list a few colleges that you think would be good. I hear UGA has a wonderful Optometry curriculum, but I think I would like to have the salary of a doctor with an M.D.</p>
<p>Good optometrist makes more on avg than a rural FP physician. What about Opthamology, an MD "optometrist"? Optometrist you're out there in 4 yrs while your MD friends are just starting residency.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information. I'll do some research into it.</p>
<p>If I go with opthalmology I would have to to residency and med school(says wikipedia). I have no idea what residency is and about how long is med school ? Is that what you were talking about "Optometrist MD" If so would I make more than a regular optometrist? </p>
<p>Thanks alot.</p>
<p>I think you need to do a search of optometrist and opthamologist. An opthamologist is an M.D. that does eye care, including surgery. They can also prescribe medications, whereas opthamologists are more limited in the medications they can prescribe. Med school is four years after college. Residency is a time frame (depending on the specialization) of refinement of your specialization. Some residencies are longer than others, depending on the area of specialization. For instance, plastic surgeons do many more years of residency than say, family practice doctors. Residencies continue in an academic setting, but you are an M.D., and spend much of your time on patient care. I don't think there's such a thing as optometrist M.D. I'd try to do a search on job salaries of the two, but my guess is opthamologists probably tend to make more as they typically have more training.</p>
<p>An optometrist prescribes corrective vision aparatus; i.e. glasses and contacts. He can identify potential eye diseases and issues, but then refers to an opthamologist who is a medical doctor with a specialty in eye care. Optometrists go to school for 8 years (4 undergrad, 4 optometry school). Opthamologists go to school much longer...10-12, I think (4 undergrad, 4 med school, 2-4 residency). Of course, they make way more money, it's much more specialized. They also pay more in malpractice insurance! In Georgia, you can go to optmetry school at MCOG; that's it. UAB in Birmingham has a very well known program. Ask your eye care professional for suggestions.</p>
<p>Thanks for clearing up my questions.</p>
<p>I had "optometrist" in quotes b/c they, O.D.s, are providing more care that was once reserved for opthamologists (M.D./D.O.).</p>
<p>First of all, don't do it for the money..... and second, do what you wanna do like would rather do surgery (fun stuff) and be on call 24/7? Or would you rather of a more lax schedule....I'm in the same situation....I can't decide between the two...</p>
<p>Oh and opthamologists do make more money....</p>
<p>A note of caution. In many states an optometrist's practice is limited to prescribing eyeglasses and contact glasses. Many have relatively low paying jobs working with eyeglass chains (eg Lenscrafters) or working for M.D.s</p>
<p>VA is not one of those states....</p>
<p>VA is not one of those states....</p>