Should You Still Become an Optometrist in 2024?

Should you still pursue a career in optometry today? In this video, Dr. Kevin Cornwell discusses the current landscape of the optometric profession and education.

We discuss the pros and cons of a career path in optometry and help you decide whether or not becoming an optometrist is right for you.

Fun facts about optometry
- It take about 8-10 years of education & training to become an OD
- OD's diagnose & manage a wide variety of ocular conditions including glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts & diabetic retinopathy
- OD's are also able to detect many undiagnosed systemic conditions on a routine eye exam - including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, strokes, multiple sclerosis & even brain tumors
- Over 250,000 cases of type 2 diabetes are diagnosed each year by optometrists, based on eye exam findings
- Optometrists co-manage patients with a variety of other healthcare providers - including urgent/emergency care, endocrinologists, rheumatologists, ophthalmologists & neurologists
- Today's OD's work in wide variety of settings including VA/IHS hospitals, community health centers, private/group practice, retail/commercial settings, academia/research
- Average tuition for optometry school today is $45,000-$55,000/year
- The average salary for optometrists is over $180,000/year
- There are currently 24 schools & colleges of optometry in the US
- There are approximately 40,000 optometrists & 18,500 ophthalmologists practicing in US
- By the year 2025, there is an expected shortage of ~6,000 ophthalmologists
- 39% of US counties have access to optometry but not ophthalmology services, another 12% of counties have no access to eyecare at all
- About 20% of contact lenses & 14% of eyeglasses are purchased online today

Intro 00:01
Becoming an Optometrist (education/training) 00:36
Optometric Admission Test 00:56
Importance of shadowing an optometrist 01:10
Today's Optometry school curriculum, licensure & residency training 01:23
The benefits of becoming an optometrist 02:17
Ocular & systemic conditions that optometrists diagnose & treat 02:36
Co-managing patients with other physicians & healthcare providers 03:11
Common clinical/non-clinical career paths for today's optometrist 03:53
Giving back/volunteering as an optometrist 04:15
Average salary 04:29
The downside/concerns of becoming an optometrist in 2023 04:46
Cost of education/tackling student loan debt 05:21
Scholarships & Loan repayment programs 06:05
Saturated job market? 06:26
Shortage of ophthalmologists 07:02
Shortage of eyecare providers in rural US 07:22
Disruption from online optical sales 08:09
Conclusion 08:39

Resources

How to Survive & Thrive in Optometry School

Video edits by Nicole Cornwell & Kevin Cornwell

Connect with Dr. Cornwell

Music by @Kevincornwellod

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MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: All content in this video and description including: information, opinions, content, references and links is for informational purposes only. The authors of this video do not provide any medical advice on the Site. Accessing, viewing, reading or using this content in any way does NOT create a physician-patient relationship between you and the optometrists featured. Providing personal or medical information to the optometrists does not create a physician-patient relationship between you and them. Nothing contained in this video or its description is intended to establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician or health care professional, or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always consult a licensed physician or appropriately-credentialed health care worker in your community in all matters relating to your health.

[visionrefocused]

Thanks for watching! If you have ideas for optometry-related topics you'd like to see covered in a future video, let us know in the comments below. Thanks for the support!

[paulbrungardt]

I graduated optometry school in 1981--Today, ODs are vastly under compensated for 8 years of: student loan debt, blood, sweat & tears.

[DragonMurbah]

Thanks for this video Dr. Cornwell. I’ve been out of school for a year and a half after getting my undergrad in Biological Science, and I’ve seriously considering optometry. Been trying to get as much insight as I can and this has helped 🙏🏻

[mikeson]

Just curious. How much the range salary of optometrist in rural setting?

[juansotelo]

Hey quick question! How do you like being an optometrist? What’s your personal experience?

[Arkaden]

Thank you for providing some insight! During optometry school, how many hours would you spend studying per week?

[taylormeaders]

good video! i am currently deciding between physician assistant school vs optometry school.

[anEyePhil]

Avoid Corporate Optometry. They are focussed on shareholder returns at any cost. Be independent, feed your profits back into your own practice. Look after people, solve their problems, work within their socioeconomic limitations. Don’t let a Corporate “Manager” dictate your work.

[leenaelias]

Terribly hard to become and crazy pressure of bosses to sell

[Motivation]

what s the oppotunity after optometrist in us?

[Docante]

Greatly oversaturated in California
Hardly any jobs
Not worth the expense