What's your favorite optometry practice setting and why? Let me know in the comments below! Also, after filming I realized I forgot to include: - Armed forces optometry: An incredible way to serve our military, practice in various areas of the country, and get your student loans paid off by the US government. - Traveling optometry: A great way to provide on-site care at schools, corporations, and assisted living facilities.
I've been working for an opthalmologist for 13 years. Worked my way up from reception to technician, doctor assistant surgery coordinator. I did it all, even billing and coding. I am currently the office manager, and I know all the ins and outs of ophthalmology. We started hiring optometrists to help in the practice and that's what opened my eyes as to this is definitely what I want to do, as well as, some patient feedback. As someone who has a bachelor of arts, I have a lot of work to do to even get into optometry school. But I'm hoping that my vast experience will help me. I also would love to work with trauma patients. God willing, things will work out for me.
I graduate Optometry School in 6 months and am looking for work. With so many practice modalities it’s hard to know what my best fit will be. Really, I’m looking for a place where I won’t be hammered with exams all day, have a happy work life balance and not take a hit on pay. Was considering working as an Associate Optometrist at a LensCrafters, could you gave me some advice? Thank you
I have a multi location LC sublease. Your patient volume will depend on the independent doctor of optometry who holds the sublease. In my experience, sublease holders are flexible with exams per an hour and sub specialties as long as you provide quality patient care and are a team player.
I've heard many people recommend optometry residencies. I can't seem to find salaries for them. Do they typically pay entry-level, bare-bones (like $15/hr), or are they paying livable amounts ($80-120k/year)? Thanks!
Optometry residents are paid between 35-50K. I always recommend residents live like a student, since they’re already accustom to doing so during optometry school.
Awesome video! Interesting that you had your residency at ico. I have an interview there shortly. The only thing that I am second guessing about it is the fact that I have heard that the area is a little rough.
ICO is in an underserved area of Chicago but the facility is very safe and has a strong security presence. Plus, the clinical cases that you’d have exposure to are some of the best in the country!
@@RyanReflects yea its definitely a school I am considering. I know a few other optometrists who have went there and they say the same about the clinical exposure! Also, I'm not sure what I did but I meant to post this under your most recent video 😂
This is a very helpful video. I'm considering Optometry. How have you managed to balance the patient work with the clerical side of things (insurance, patent records, etc)? I worked for two ODs in Los Angeles as an Assistant and they had quite a lot of things they had to hire help for, like insurance, screening, pretesting, EMRs, which I did for them. It seems pretty time consuming for the OD to do on top of treating patients, but maybe there are more efficient ways.
If you’re the owner of a practice, the administrative responsibilities come with it. Owners who figure out how to delegate and create office efficiencies outperform those who don’t. A simple work around to this is to be an associate doctor.
Subleasing sounds like a good option, but I have heard from other people that it can be unstable because the corporation can choose not to renew the optometrist's lease if another OD proposes a better offer for that year. Is this true? Or maybe the policy varies depending on which company (target optical, lens crafters, costco, etc...)?
It’s a great option for many and secure if you’re a good partner to the corporation you sublease from. If you meet the criteria on the lease and take care of your patient base, you’ll have nothing to worry about. Personally, I sublease from LensCrafters and it has been a great choice for me. Yes, some of the sublease requirements are challenging but so are other modes of practice. I’ll definitely be doing a video on this soon!
This video was so helpful! Thank you so much. Would you mind doing a video on optometry school and the career outlook for optometry? How long is the residency? Is it paid like the medical school residency?
What's your favorite optometry practice setting and why? Let me know in the comments below!
Also, after filming I realized I forgot to include:
- Armed forces optometry: An incredible way to serve our military, practice in various areas of the country, and get your student loans paid off by the US government.
- Traveling optometry: A great way to provide on-site care at schools, corporations, and assisted living facilities.
Great work doctor
I've been working for an opthalmologist for 13 years. Worked my way up from reception to technician, doctor assistant surgery coordinator. I did it all, even billing and coding. I am currently the office manager, and I know all the ins and outs of ophthalmology. We started hiring optometrists to help in the practice and that's what opened my eyes as to this is definitely what I want to do, as well as, some patient feedback. As someone who has a bachelor of arts, I have a lot of work to do to even get into optometry school. But I'm hoping that my vast experience will help me. I also would love to work with trauma patients. God willing, things will work out for me.
Thank you for sharing! I’m sure it will and wish you the best of luck on your journey.
Thanks for this
My pleasure!
im 15 right now and considering on taking optometry in the future. thank you for this✨.
Absolutely! Hopefully you’re able to shadow or work in an optometry practice during high school/undergrad. You have a bright future ahead.
Amazing information thank you for this great video.
Thank you!
I graduate Optometry School in 6 months and am looking for work. With so many practice modalities it’s hard to know what my best fit will be. Really, I’m looking for a place where I won’t be hammered with exams all day, have a happy work life balance and not take a hit on pay. Was considering working as an Associate Optometrist at a LensCrafters, could you gave me some advice? Thank you
I have a multi location LC sublease. Your patient volume will depend on the independent doctor of optometry who holds the sublease. In my experience, sublease holders are flexible with exams per an hour and sub specialties as long as you provide quality patient care and are a team player.
I've heard many people recommend optometry residencies. I can't seem to find salaries for them. Do they typically pay entry-level, bare-bones (like $15/hr), or are they paying livable amounts ($80-120k/year)? Thanks!
Optometry residents are paid between 35-50K. I always recommend residents live like a student, since they’re already accustom to doing so during optometry school.
Awesome video! Interesting that you had your residency at ico. I have an interview there shortly. The only thing that I am second guessing about it is the fact that I have heard that the area is a little rough.
ICO is in an underserved area of Chicago but the facility is very safe and has a strong security presence. Plus, the clinical cases that you’d have exposure to are some of the best in the country!
@@RyanReflects yea its definitely a school I am considering. I know a few other optometrists who have went there and they say the same about the clinical exposure! Also, I'm not sure what I did but I meant to post this under your most recent video 😂
This is a very helpful video. I'm considering Optometry. How have you managed to balance the patient work with the clerical side of things (insurance, patent records, etc)? I worked for two ODs in Los Angeles as an Assistant and they had quite a lot of things they had to hire help for, like insurance, screening, pretesting, EMRs, which I did for them. It seems pretty time consuming for the OD to do on top of treating patients, but maybe there are more efficient ways.
If you’re the owner of a practice, the administrative responsibilities come with it. Owners who figure out how to delegate and create office efficiencies outperform those who don’t. A simple work around to this is to be an associate doctor.
@@RyanReflects Awesome thanks!
Subleasing sounds like a good option, but I have heard from other people that it can be unstable because the corporation can choose not to renew the optometrist's lease if another OD proposes a better offer for that year. Is this true? Or maybe the policy varies depending on which company (target optical, lens crafters, costco, etc...)?
It’s a great option for many and secure if you’re a good partner to the corporation you sublease from. If you meet the criteria on the lease and take care of your patient base, you’ll have nothing to worry about.
Personally, I sublease from LensCrafters and it has been a great choice for me. Yes, some of the sublease requirements are challenging but so are other modes of practice. I’ll definitely be doing a video on this soon!
This video was so helpful! Thank you so much. Would you mind doing a video on optometry school and the career outlook for optometry? How long is the residency? Is it paid like the medical school residency?
Absolutely! I’ll put these topics on my “to film” list and will have them out soon. Thanks for the feedback and support 😊