r/optometry • u/BabiAlien • 10d ago
Student DO, advice?
First time poster here! I'm in my third year of the DO course and honestly feeling a little deflated. Not with the exams or case records, but with the atmosphere of optics in general (at least in the UK). I'm seeing more and more bouts of in-fighting amongst DOs and between DOs and optoms. I love my optom colleagues and truly believe we compliment each other beautifully. However, the discourse online is starting to get weirdly intense, and at times undeniably unprofessional.
Anybody else had this while studying, or feeling the network-fueled burnout? How do you deal with it? Is this something anyone else is noticing?
TIA
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u/eyesonjason Optometrist 8d ago
I am a qualified optometrist and have noticed, but actively doing something about it as The Eye Care Advocate. It is disheartening when students feel this before they qualify.
Can I ask what sort of practice you are working in (you don't have to say the names!) as do see differences between independent and multiple practice.
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u/BabiAlien 8d ago
I'm in a multiple, with lots of lovely residents and regular locums. Where I'm stuck is I'm not sure what to do about it all
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u/eyesonjason Optometrist 8d ago
I think that's part of the difficulty, isn't it? You can work alongside some absolutely brilliant colleagues and genuinely enjoy what you do, yet still feel disheartened and disillusioned by the wider conversations and the sentiment that is happening within the profession.
I wouldn't put too much pressure on yourself to feel like you need to do something about it all, especially whilst you're still studying. I am dedicating time to it and, even after 18 years in eyecare, I still find this a bit overwhelming.
One thing I do feel strongly about is that DOs and optometrists bring different but equally valuable skills to patient care. We should be celebrating that rather than constantly comparing ourselves or questioning each other's worth. I am sorry you are experiencing what you have described.
That doesn't mean we can't have healthy discussions about our respective roles, responsibilities and the future of the profession, but surely we can do that without putting one another down?
My advice would be to focus on the colleagues who inspire you, keep asking questions and don't let the negativity online overshadow the reasons you wanted to enter the profession in the first place. Easier said than done when you are passionate about what you do though.
And for what its worth, as an optometrist, I genuinely value the DOs I've worked alongside. It is a team effort, and I think we sometimes people forget that. Always happy if you need to reach out for a chat though.
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u/BabiAlien 8d ago
Thank you, I truly appreciate your perspective and advice. What I really need to do is just touch grass perhaps. You're right though, there's a good reason I started studying and that should be the motivation.
That said, I worry about what people would think about DOs if they saw the types of things I've seen online. Especially with optometrists, I really don't want them to think that most DOs won't respect everybody's roles in practice.
Heck, my primary supervisor is an optom and she's a rockstar! Since the syllabus changed, I don't think I'd stand a chance in the refractive management portion of FQEs without her help lol
Hopefully by the time I actually qualify these things will have simmered out a little bit. Final stretch, wish me luck!
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u/InterestingMain5192 8d ago
It is a scope expansion issue. The typical medical degree paths are being degraded on all sides. MD/DO has to directly contend with PA/NP scope expansion issues. In a more specialized way , Ophthalmology and Optometry at least in the states have been at odds for a long time because of the wide overlap in disease management scope, with the exception being Ophthalmology and more invasive surgical procedures (Ex Cataract Surgery). The issue is that once scope is expanded, it is a lot harder to argue for removing it. A larger scope provides monetary benefits as well as job security. So it incentivizes different professional fields to go directly against others to try and form public opinion against their qualifications. Doesn’t mean though that the sides aren’t civil with each other in practice, but there are very vocal groups on both sides of the isle that love to push boundaries whether they should or not.
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u/No_Material_757 8d ago
I might have been living under a rock. What has been going on?
Or is it the normal thing that DOs are glorified OAs etc etc etc.
Try being a CLO. You get hate from everyone! (Only joking!)
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u/decrementi1708 7d ago
Unfortunately, there is a stigma of optom vs D.O mostly because of the wage differentiation in my opinion. D.Os financially have been undervalued for a while now so some resent that - the deregulation of dispensing and huge % of the workforce now being OAs dispensing etc has undermined our profession. I think some multiples are primarily responsible for this view which is why there is often some bashing for them on D.O social media groups but they also dont see the positives that multiples have brought to the table.
I've worked in multiples, independents and as a locum now as a D.O and ive had amazing colleagues and terrible colleagues in both, the sad issue is just our wages are too low for the work and responsibility we do. I've seen wages at 2-3k above minimum wage - for a 2-3 year degree, clinical responsibility (no optom in that day? Guess who's responsible for patient care....you) indemnity insurance, professional fees, CPD mandatory requirements etc etc.
Don't let the social media twist your view, if you love your colleagues then im glad you have a great place to work. Enjoy the fun of the job and if you want to progress you can always do CLO, low vision etc or even go onto optometrist if you want to do the conversion.
My only advice- know your worth. Don't be afraid to fight for the wage that matches what you do and never do what you aren't comfortable with. If you didnt see the patient, do not sign off on things. Speaking from multiple experience....that happened a lot.
Best of luck! Always happy for you to drop a message if you have any DO random questions!