People with glaucoma, which can cause blindness, must visit an ophthalmologist for regular eye exams. The doctor uses drops that dilate or widen the pupils to examine the inside of the eyes.
During these exams, your eye care professional can also spot health problems like diabetes and a family history of crossed eyes (strabismus). With new technologies, they may be able to catch eye diseases even earlier. Contact Baltimore Eye Physicians now!
While the American public expects and deserves the highest standards of care from its medical professionals, it also requires a highly structured education process and training with publicly accountable national standards. The goal is to ensure that all doctors — regardless of the specialty or pathway they take — have the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to provide safe, high-quality care.
The path to becoming an eye doctor starts with undergraduate college. Most optometry schools recommend a bachelor’s degree in subjects like biology, chemistry and physics, but each program has its own requirements. Then, after completing an undergraduate degree, students attend a four-year optometry school. There they study topics in optics, vision sciences, contact lenses and the medical management of eye disease. They also learn about the human body, including its physiology and anatomy.
After graduating from optometry school, graduates must pass the National Board of Examiners in Optometry to get their license to practice. The test uses a criterion-based scoring system, and the American Board of Optometry notes that every state has its own standard for passing scores, so meeting or exceeding a score doesn’t guarantee a license to practice.
Some optometrists choose to complete a one-year optometric residency to gain hands-on experience in a clinical setting. These programs give them the chance to work with real patients and to see a variety of pathology. They can then decide whether they want to open their own private practices pu,rsue careers in research and academia, or work for the government or a hospital.
To become an ophthalmologist, graduates must complete a one-year general medical internship and then go through a three-year ophthalmology residency to learn to diagnose and treat diseases of the eye and its components. Some ophthalmologists then choose to go on for one- or two-year fellowships to focus their training and become board-certified in specific subspecialties, such as cataract surgery or retinal disease.
No matter the path to a career in eyesight, aspiring eye doctors should find schools that offer support throughout their studies and are accredited by the AOA. This ensures that students are prepared to succeed in their coursework, take national board exams and find optometric residencies.
Specialty Training
A doctor who specializes in eye care is called an ophthalmologist. This type of doctor has at least 12 years of training. This includes undergraduate school and medical school, as well as a residency in ophthalmology. Ophthalmologists may also opt to get additional training in a specific subspecialty.
Those who want to become an optometrist must complete four years of college and have a bachelor’s degree. A doctor who wants to become an ophthalmologist must spend about eight years in medical school, followed by a residency in ophthalmology.
Ophthalmologists treat a variety of problems. These include cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and strabismus (crossed eyes). Some ophthalmologists specialize in pediatric ophthalmology. Others focus on geriatric ophthalmology. Some ophthalmologists choose to specialize in the management of laser vision correction procedures, such as LASIK and PRK.
A physician who chooses to focus on the treatment of eye diseases or disorders often has the opportunity to participate in research projects related to these conditions. This is a great way to gain valuable experience and make connections within the community.
After completing medical school, aspiring ophthalmologists must complete a one-year transitional year internship, or clinical base year. During this time, they begin to work with patients and learn the basics of ophthalmology. Some physicians choose to substitute a rotation in general medicine or surgery for this year.
The MDU has surveyed trainees about their interest in paediatric ophthalmology. It is clear from the results that many trainees are not interested in paediatric ophthalmology at present. However, the free text responses suggest that many of these trainees would change their mind if they were exposed to paediatric ophthalmology early in their training.
There is an option to take time out of programme, which is a formal process overseen by the postgraduate dean in your region. Trainees considering taking this opportunity must speak to their educational supervisor(s) and TPD(s) at the earliest opportunity in order to plan the experience appropriately. They must also have the agreement of their postgraduate dean. This is particularly important if they intend to return to the specialty on a consultant basis.
Residency
A resident training program provides entry level optometry graduates an advanced clinical and didactic education in a variety of ocular disease areas. The goal is to expand the residency graduate’s knowledge base, diagnostic and management skills to allow them to better serve patients with complex medical ocular diseases or visual problems.
The resident will be involved in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of ocular diseases including glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, corneal ulcers and other chronic eye disorders. The resident will also gain experience in co-management with ophthalmology specialists for those patients whose needs fall outside the scope of primary eye care.
In addition, the resident will participate in patient teaching at a local optometric office and teach student externs. The resident will also participate in departmental meetings and journal club. The resident will be encouraged to attend other ophthalmic educational meetings, both locally and nationally (i.e. SECO, AAO, AOA), and to present a case study or poster at one of these meetings. The resident will document these attendance experiences in the residency activity log.
During the residency program, the resident will be expected to perform and assist in research projects in either basic or clinical science. The resident will be able to access resources at the Gundersen Medical Library as well as through the clinical staff. The resident will be expected to prepare a manuscript or case report for publication in an appropriate peer reviewed journal.
The residency resident will be exposed to a diverse and challenging patient mix and will be required to perform comprehensive optometric examinations including binocular vision, ocular motility and the interpretation of specialized instrumentation such as ocular coherence tomography, perimetry, visual fields and anterior segment photography. The resident will be expected to provide quality patient care in a timely manner and will be held to a high standard of professional conduct.
The residency program is designed to be of a duration of one year. Applicants will be selected based on their education, clinical performance, letters of reference, professional accomplishments and personal goals. The resident will be selected by the supervisory committee of the ophthalmology department and the SCO Director of Residency programs.
Career Opportunities
The most common career path for optometrists is in private practice. This includes solo, independent, and corporate practices. New grads are encouraged to explore all the options to determine which will be best for them professionally. Some may want to start their own independent or group practice, while others prefer a more business-oriented setting. Regardless of your preferences, it is important to choose a career that will allow you to be financially secure and enjoy your work.
Optometrists can also find employment in the pharmaceutical industry in a research or marketing capacity. Many pharma companies need a diverse team of professionals, including optometrists to help develop new medications and improve existing products. A bachelors degree in a field like finance, accounting or MBA is recommended for this type of role.
Some optometrists decide to move into administrative roles within healthcare. This type of position usually involves managing insurance claims, contracts and payments for multiple providers, along with performing records audits and educating doctors on the latest changes in billing and coding practices. Some of these positions are offered through consulting firms while others are full-time positions within healthcare organizations.
Another option is to teach at an optometry school. This can be a rewarding experience, especially for those interested in a less clinical and more academic environment. Optometrists can seek teaching opportunities through their own schools or by contacting local community colleges or medical schools that offer undergraduate degrees in these fields.
A final career option is to focus on a particular specialty within optometry. Many people find that they are able to attract and retain patients by offering unique and specialized services. Whether it is fitting complex contact lenses such as scleral and ortho-k or providing myopia control for children, an optometrist who can excel in a specific area will be in high demand.
All career paths require significant commitments of time and resources. However, for those that are motivated and determined, there is no reason why any of these can’t be the right path for you. By preparing well and focusing on your strengths, you can be confident that the career path you choose will provide the personal satisfaction and financial security you deserve.