Comments for optoblog.com

Comment on Do Not Become an Optometrist by OptimetristWannaBe

OptimetristWannaBe — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:01:07 +0000

Since third grade, my dream has been “to become an optometrist”. I’ve considered other jobs, but optometry has always seemed right for me and I always came back to it. Although I maybe young and “don’t understand real life stuff”, you seem like a real downer. I haven’t had time to read the whole article and comments (I will tomorrow) and some of your points are legit ament, your blog seems to make the reputation of an optometrist much worse. I have never even realized people had these negative feelings toward optometrists until I researched “How To Become An Optometrist” and your link popped up. Thousands of people have seen this website who may have dreamed of becoming an optometrist and never realized the negative parts of being an optimetrist and now you have ruined it for them. Sorry to offend you but you are just making the situation incredibly worse by making this blog. Also, there are many downsides to every job, your just naming the downsides of an optometrist. Why don’t you try naming the bad things about being a teacher, a dentist, a police officer, or a lawyer? I’m sure you’ll find many downsides to these jobs too.

And does optometry school really cost that much money? If so, I didn’t realize that.

I also am concerned about bein able to find a job in the area I live in, and I am not sure if I should start my own private practice or work for the government?…help? ThAnks!

Comment on 2012 Cache County Utah GOP Convention Audio by David

David — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 04:47:23 +0000

You can also see these candidates speak at the Utah State GOP connection at: http://utahgop.wordpress.com/

Comment on The Way of the Dodo? by pullingmyhairout

pullingmyhairout — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 04:27:54 +0000

With more and more pts getting Eyemed ($35/exam) or $45/VSP exam, even less with Cole and online frame retailers that sell for less than I get charged to ship a pair of lenses that I can edge in-office, the private office will be dead. Even more annoying is when pts suck down an hour or two of staff time, only to order the exact same frame on-line, ask us for the pd and seg height, then come back later for us to adjust the frame! They think we are ripping them off, because the online retailers sell the frames so cheap. The retailers buy them for pennies on the dollars from Optical places going out of business. So they can buy one frame from Silhouette for $130, 5 identical frames for $10 from a practice going out of business, and use the original frames warranty if a problem arises.

Comment on I don’t hate optometry by pullingmyhairout

pullingmyhairout — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 04:09:28 +0000

I love the work. I love the Patients. I especially love unraveling mystery pathologies. There are many different areas to focus on…contacts, lens design/material, disease, technology, business, coding/billing, advertising, etc.
What I don’t love is the pay!! There are far too many optometrists, with new schools opening all the time. I think this is because a bunch of underemployed optometrist got together and convinced a bunch of dim witted State Leaders that they needed more Optometry Schools, thus providing full time employment, prestige, benefits and summers off to this small group of underemployed Optometrists who wanted to spend their days roaming the halls wearing long white lab coats and being called “Professor.” I have known many students (mostly from Berkeley) who changed careers entirely after not being able to find a job. An RN with a GED and a three year Nursing degree makes more, and they also get medical, dental, vacation, retirement, sick leave, maternity leave and free in-house CE. They also have upward mobility as far as becoming a Nurse Anesthetist or Nurse Practitioner. Unless of course you went to Berkeley, in which case your local LVN makes more. I rue the day I dropped out of Nursing to switch to Biology. Ironically, I did it because I did not find the curriculum challenging enough.

Comment on Hate Comments #001 by pullingmyhairout

pullingmyhairout — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 03:03:01 +0000

Don’t forget to add that after you spend your life savings opening a practice, only to have it fail because the largest employer in your town switched to EyeMed, which pays $35/exam (this is the future of optometry) you will not be able to get a Government job, because your credit is toast. Also, if you look at Federal pay scales for optometrist, they are paid the same as nurses. They are paid far, far less than dentists, Nurse Practitioners or Nurse Anesthetists.

Comment on Do Not Become an Optometrist by Eric L

Eric L — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:42:30 +0000

Wow. This is so interesting. Please allow me to drop my opinion on this matter.

Quick Background: These are job titles that I have held over the years. Bank Manager, Tech Recruiter, Director of HR for dotbomb, Tech Sales, Fine Dining Restaurant Owner, and Mortgage Banker. I hold a BS in Management. My nephew is an MD. My sister-in-law is a Pharmacist. My wife and niece will both be OD this year.

I have seen software engineers work around the clock and actually sleep in their cubicles. My best buddy works for a tech company, and he works from home. You’d think it’s great but he works pretty much from 7am to 10pm at night. He never actually leaves his work behind and go home like most. My sister in law has to stand all day, and Walgreens supposedly removed all the chairs so that they can’t sit. My nephew is bitter about his line of work as an MD. He makes 200k per yr but he thinks he should have gone to Harvard B school. I used to make $100 per hour as a tech recruiter but engineers think of us as fleas. I saw an MD ran across the street to deliver a baby and came back to her dinner table with her family at my restaurant. I can’t imagine that was fun for her or her kids.

It’s true the market for OD is tough and especially in CA. But I have seen many different fields, and it all boils down to “doing what you love”. You have to wake up feeling good about going to your line of work. Don’t get into this for the money. Get into this if you enjoy being around that environment. When you shadow, that’s when you need to think for yourself if this is what you will enjoy waking up to. If you are good at what you do, the money will be there. My wife loves being around this profession, and she is fully aware of the tough job market. She doesnt care. She has a skillset and is also a mother. She might work full time or part time. But I’ll be there to support her student loan.

Comment on Do Not Become an Optometrist by Elaine

Elaine — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:42:51 +0000

Totally agree. Especially in a developing country like Malaysia, it’s an occupation that is not respected at all.Ophthalmologist are treating ocular diseases, Orthoptist works on binocular vision problem, Optician are allowed to precribe glasses and contact lenses, In malaysia optometrist are even not allowed to use dilatation and cycloplegic drops for diagnostic prupose without medical doctors prescription. I wonder what’s the purpose of optometry to exist?

Comment on “Use of Optical Scan Machines” H.B. 408 Utah State Legislature 2012 by Donna

Donna — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:28:02 +0000

After reading your article, I am amazed that you are not a member of the UOA. With a small business to protect, why wouldn’t you want to be a part of an organization that is trying to do just that?

Comment on Biofinity Contact Lens Review by Jamie

Jamie — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:16:28 +0000

I have very dry eyes, and wanted to wear contacts again after going 10yrs without them. My optometrist was very patient with helping me find the perfect contact for my eyes. I think we tried 4 different kinds. The ONLY contact that I could wear a full day, without needing to constantly rewet with eyedrops, are the Coopervision Proclear Compatibles. They are made very thin, and some people complain about them tearing easily, but I have not had that problem with them at all. If you have very sensitive, dry eyes…I would suggest giving them a try!

Comment on Do Not Become an Optometrist by Kj

Kj — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:48:04 +0000

I disagree with most of the blog. I think optometry is great. I graduated from optometry school last year. I work private practice 8-5 mon thru fri and make 98000. I think it’s the prefect career. What more could you ask for