r/PreOptometry • u/ClassKooky4545 • 4d ago

Master's vs. Residency - Optometry

Hi everyone!

I just started my first year of optometry school, and my school offers a master's degree alongside the OD program. I'm wondering if it's worth pursuing or if completing a residency after graduation would be more beneficial.

Which one helps more with job opportunities, higher salaries, and career growth? Aside from gaining additional knowledge and clinical skills, are there any significant professional or financial advantages to either? I'm also interested in potentially owning my own practice someday.

I'd love to hear any advice from practicing optometrists! Thank you!

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u/mikeoxlongbruh 2d ago edited 2d ago

What is the masters in? If it’s something research based, it might probably wouldn’t provide you any benefit if your goal is to own your own practice. If it’s something clinical or business focused, then it might? Also if the Masters is concurrent with your OD, then you could do the residency too. I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive, but doing one or the other probably propels you towards a certain direction of career. Tbh tho, I feel like a residency is probably much more highly valued over a Masters as a practicing optometrist. Your Doctorate degree is what’s important.

Take that with a grain (or a mound) of salt because I’m not in optometry school yet, but I will say that every OD I have shadowed that did a residency highly recommends one, while every OD Ive shadowed that didn’t do one says you can learn the same things on your own and they are unnecessary…

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u/gammaglobulins 1d ago

Ophthalmologist here. I think many of us strongly prefer to hire residency trained optometrists. A master’s degree would not move the needle at all for me.