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.

SUBSCRIBE for more eye health & optometry related videos!    / @visionrefocused  

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
https://optometriceducation.org/
https://futureeyedoc.org/
https://oat.ada.org/

Video edits by Nicole Cornwell & Kevin Cornwell

Connect with Dr. Cornwell
[email protected]

Music by @Kevincornwellod
   / kevincornwell  

Thanks for watching! Subscribe, comment & share for more videos.

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.