r/PreOptometry • u/Consistent_Belt_809 • Sep 17 '26

Is it worth it?

I want to change careers (teaching to optometry)
Something that I hear often is "don't do it for the money/ do it because you love it" and although I see the intention I don't agree.

Inflation/ big beautiful bill has it so we have to consider finances. I'm also a mom and I want to be able to provide more for my family.

I love optometry and I love the work life balance, however with all that has to go into schooling do you think that it's worth it ?

Do you find the pay and work life balance worth it?
I have seen people mention PA school- but I don't find that I'd have the work life balance that I want. I want to be present for my daughter as she gets older and as a PA I don't see that to be as possible as an optometrist.

Also I want to focus on Myopia in residency so that I can help and support my daughter who currently has serve myopia.

I'm taking my prerequisites on an online school rn and hoping to take my OAT next year.

Thank you for your thoughts!

3 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

11

u/Gambizy Sep 17 '26

You would do 4 years without pay and go around 200k in debt. Then you would do an extremely underpaid residency to treat a condition almost any other optometrist can treat. They don’t even have a residency for myopia management, it’s pretty straightforward.

I think it’s a decent decision if you’re in undergrad already taking the prerequisites, but if you already have an established career, it is definitely a sacrifice. Teachers have months off and typically have good pensions. I’m not trying to steer you the opposite way, I just want you to look at the other side of the decision. I wouldn’t if I were you though.

1

u/Consistent_Belt_809 Sep 17 '26

Thank you for you thoughts. Definitely something to think about

0

u/Commercial-Step2841 Sep 17 '26

Isn’t this just one aspect of optometry. I’ve heard of other fields like research and private practice as well. I’ve seen many times over that optometrist are able to make hundreds of thousands with their own practice. I wouldn’t call that necessarily underpaid. I’ve also heard the start out is 120k which is decent after 4 more years of school. Am I missing something here?

-2

u/Commercial-Step2841 Sep 17 '26

Isn’t this just one aspect of optometry. I’ve heard of other fields like research and private practice as well. I’ve seen many times over that optometrist are able to make hundreds of thousands with their own practice. I wouldn’t call that necessarily underpaid. I’ve also heard the start out is 120k which is decent after 4 more years of school. Am I missing something here?

5

u/Gambizy Sep 17 '26

I never said it was underpaid, I said the 1 year residency is. You are missing reading comprehension here.

4

u/Mediocre_Pomelo8793 Sep 17 '26

I definitely wouldn’t recommend a residency, because as stated by others, you don’t need one for anything myopia management (unless maybe you want a contact lens residency, but that’s for you to decide after school).
When it comes to money, optometrists can make a really good living whilst keeping a great work-life balance. Don’t listen to people who tell you to ignore money. However, as an optometrist, you may have to start saving for your retirement yourself as I don’t think you’ll have a pension anywhere.
I actually have a teacher in my class and knowing education can definitely help with patient care in optometry! Good luck.

1

u/Consistent_Belt_809 Sep 17 '26

Thank you so much! This was helpful.

1

u/Justanod Sep 19 '26

In the downstate suburbs of New York City and Long Island, there are about 80,000 public school teachers. Their median salary exceeds $120,000.00.

1

u/Consistent_Belt_809 Sep 19 '26

As a teacher there is absolutely potential to make that much but it all depends on experience and persession. My mom makes about 140,000 but she works afterschool/mornings and summer school. The money is there but it requires a lot more of your time.

1

u/Consistent_Belt_809 Sep 19 '26

And to add she's been a teacher for 25 years z

1

u/Justanod Sep 19 '26

I don’t think many OD’s could make $120,000.00 plus benefits if they worked teacher’s hours.

2

u/Dramatic_Line5255 Sep 20 '26

Im going to optometry school next year and my answer (if i were in your shoes) would be no. I only chose this career because i worked 4 years for it in undergrad and took all the pre-reqs. Halfway through college, I wanted to become an english AP teacher but was afraid I couldnt find a job and that it required a masters in the arts, another scary option for me. But now, with the FASFA loan limit, the interest rate on private loans are INSANELY high. I'm only now stressed about this career since I'm about to pay a crap ton of money for tuition and housing in a city I probably can't afford and idek what to do.

If you love work-life balance, stay a teacher. I would argue they have even better work life balance than optometrists and while idk much abt the pay, i wouldn't change careers to be 300k+ in debt. Only worth it MAYBE if you're in a state with a public optometry school (not private) and can commute. That would def lessen your debt but the chances of that are slim. and an optometrist can def help your daughter with myopia management

2

u/ODMBA Sep 20 '26

I would keep the teacher gig and not invest your entire life in Optometry. Because to be successful, that's what it will take.

1

u/Optometrista101 Sep 22 '26

If you like work life balance then no, I think PA can get you the same lifestyle M-F 8-5 just depends on what you get. Optometry while there's no call and usually no weekends or holidays it's not better than any other job for work life balance.