v What is a Doctor of Optometry and what do they do?

v Where do Doctors of Optometry work and what are the working conditions?

v What schooling/training do Doctors of Optometry need?

v Is there a demand for Doctors of Optometry?

In this paper, I will focus on these questions while exploring the expanding career of optometry. However, since I am an undergraduate, a majority of this paper will focus on the schooling/training aspect of optometry.

Of all Americans, the percent of people ages 18-29 that wear glasses or contacts is around 54%. Of Americans ages 49 and higher, 90% wear glasses or contacts. (Holladay 1) Who diagnoses and treats these patients? Optometrists. According to the American Optometric Association (2002), optometrists are doctors who “are independent, primary health care providers who examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases and disorders of the vi

The median net income in relation to the number of years in practice can be found in Table 1.3 on the following page. If data had continued past 40 years in practice, you would have seen a median net income decrease. This is because many people prefer to see younger doctors who are probably more efficient and up to date in technological advances.

As for demographic factors, it was found that the Midwest has the largest excess of optometrists whereas the Northeast has the smallest. The Northeast’s excess is only around 1.3% while the Midwest’s excess is higher, at beyond 6.3%. (Lee 1) Another statistic that was found was that people with managed care insurance are more likely to visit an optometrist that those people with other forms of insurance, seeing that around 80% of optometrists partake in the managed care program. (Lee 1)

Optometrists can prescribe glasses or contact lenses for general vision impairment as well as diagnose various eye diseases such as glaucoma. They can also prescribe medicine for the treatment of such diseases. Optometrists do not perform surgery, so they can refer patients to an ophthalmologist, who does this type of work. Usually, an optometrist will see the patients who must undergo surgery both before and after the surgery; they just cannot perform the surgery itself. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2002-03), optometrists also “use instruments and observation to examine eye health and to test patients’ visual acuity, depth and color perception, and ability to focus and coordinate the eyes.” (p. 1)

In an article entitled “An Excess of O.D.s, but Not Too Many,” Judith Lee (2000), discusses the job outlook for optometrists by 2010. This article explains that as of now, there is an excess of optometrists in the nation. Extensive research by the American Optometric Association (AOA) has arrived at this conclusion. However, researchers have no worries that the excess is going to be damaging to the profession. As the need for eye care expands, the profession will be more in demand. Research has shown that the slightest increase in patients would cause a deficiency in doctors, showing that the excess is actually a good thing for the profession.

Today, optometry is one of the health professions that has too many doctors and not enough patients. Many doctors of optometry in the profession have feared that this may be the case. New research by the AOA confirms their fears. Nonetheless, the AOA has concluded that although there is an excess of O.D.s, it is not a problem one should worry about. In Lee’s article, Cahners Business Information describes the excess of optometrists as O.K., “While some might see oversupply as an omen, [our research team] say[s] the study shows optometry is well-positioned to meet any increase in demand.” (p. 1) Many people and companies including, Anthony DiStefano, O.D., M.P.H., Harvey Hanlen, O.D., and Abt Associates Inc., contributed to this study. At the Southern Education Congress of Optometry, in Atlanta, DiStefano and Hanlen delivered the results. (Lee 1)

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