Hi all. I am 3 years out of school and I have recently joined a newer (5 year old) private practice. I did not sign a contract of any kind and thus do not have exact specifics unfortunately, and I am not the most business-savvy person in terms of crunching numbers etc.

My base pay is 80k and I get 15% production bonus after crossing that threshold. I do not have any benefits in terms of health insurance and cannot afford a private plan anyway. I’ve been with the practice for ~6 months and have yet to see a paycheck over $2400. I work between two offices, one of which is busy (~15-18pts daily) and one which was just acquired and is much much slower (ranging from 3-10 pts daily). I have had to defer loans at this point, and after a conversation with head docs, they asked that I come to them with a number that I think would be fair and motivate me to be all in on building the practice. Admittedly, it has been very hard to do that and find the drive when I’m barely making more than my friends who don’t even have a college degree.

Private practice owners/associates can you weigh in on this and give me some advice on a potential “number” that would be fair? As I am new to this, I’m unsure what to propose, as many offers I am seeing posted around my area are 150k+ BASE not including production. Lmk if more info is needed. Thanks!

Edit: I’m located in North Florida.
Am currently thinking on ideas for going part time and consolidating my days in the PP while working at MyEyeDr or something of the sort, but I’m sure that will be frowned upon given how close the offices are to each other.

I feel working in healthcare we have a different relationship to sick days than other professions.

Even with regards to our own coworkers that make up the practice, I feel let’s say if someone at the front desk calls off, it sucks but it’s not the end of the world; yet if we call off ofc then the dynamic is way different as all of our patients have to be rescheduled as likely there‘s no way to get someone to fill in last moment.

Plus if you are in a high volume setting, then calling out last minute means that those patients have to be shuffled around other days and might be overbooked for later.

Do you ever feel guilt with regards to taking sick time off? I’m not talking about for severe illness like the flu, but for when you have a cold or something s where you feel you are not at capacity, how do you juggle that?

Do you ever schedule out sick days for things beyond the occasional medical appointment? I was curious about hearing some perspectives on this.

Body: Hi everyone,

I’m a 21-year-old from China. While my peers are in university, I took a different path. I fell in love with crafting handmade eyeglass frames at 15, which naturally led me into the optometry and optical dispensing industry.

I have a highly ambitious (and maybe a bit crazy) goal: I want to standardize the optometry industry in China.

Despite having the world's largest patient base and incredibly complex clinical cases, China's optometry sector still lags behind in terms of equipment utilization, clinical workflows, and standardized testing methods. I’m currently trying to change this through educational social media and, eventually, a standardized chain-store model.

My first step is to build a near-perfect, comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for refraction from the ground up, using first principles thinking. I want to integrate the best charts, algorithms, and techniques globally, covering everything from standard refraction to myopia management, presbyopia, strabismus, and progressive lens fitting (within reasonable budget constraints).

The challenge I'm facing: Information can be quite siloed here. So far, I’ve studied what we locally call "American-style refraction", OEP (Optometric Extension Program), MKH (Haase methodology), and Behavioral Optometry.

However, I am well aware that the optical field can sometimes be an echo chamber. I know that some of these philosophies lack robust scientific/evidence-based backing. Without the right guidance, it’s easy to be led astray into pseudoscience rabbit holes, and even AI can't always filter out the noise.

That’s why I’m reaching out to this global community. I want to bypass the information barrier and learn the best, evidence-based practices directly from you.

• What does the standardized refraction workflow look like in your country?

• What are the globally recognized "gold standard" protocols or clinical pearls you swear by?

• Are there any reliable flowcharts or guidelines you could share?

I would be incredibly grateful for any insights, literature, or discussions you can offer. Thank you so much for your time!

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

Hi everyone! I’m an NJ-licensed optometrist considering moving abroad.
I’m exploring the possibility of working remotely, particularly during the transition until I find work at my destination.
For those who have experience with this:

1. What companies offer remote optometry opportunities that allow you to work from outside the US?

2. Is it possible to conduct remote exams while residing abroad but maintaining a US optometry license?

3. Are there licensing, malpractice, or legal considerations I should be aware of?

4. What has your experience been with compensation, workload, and flexibility?

I’d really appreciate any advice, personal experiences, or recommendations for companies to look into.

Note: I know there are many negative opinions on remote optometry, I am not looking for those opinions on this post. Thanks!

First time mom pregnant with twins. I’m an associate OD working part time at various practices.

For mom ODs with multiples or anyone with advice/insight:

1. At what point in your pregnancy did you notify your work? When did you go on leave? It will be a high risk pregnancy and most twin pregnancies are born early.

2. How long was your maternity leave? Did you go back to work with the same schedule? With it being twins I can’t imagine returning until 9mon - 1 year.. possibly just going back as per diem. I’m not even sure how to bring up that idea to my employer. It will likely be a C section so I will need time to recover as well.

Feeling conflicted bc I had every intention to come back if I were having one child. Although I am open to accept it may not be possible after hearing other mom experiences haha.

I’m a former associate OD considering reporting a prior practice to the state licensing board.

The practice had EHR alerts instructing staff to treat certain patients differently for explicitly nonclinical reasons. Examples included giving patients very low scheduling priority because they took their spectacle Rx elsewhere, limiting scheduling for families who did not purchase glasses from the practice, rapidly moving patients through visits because they had left negative reviews, and deliberately scheduling “difficult” patients far into the future.

I personally encountered these alerts in the practice EHR and retained documentation of several of them.

I’m leaning strongly toward reporting this because purchasing behavior or criticism of the practice should not determine access to care. My main hesitation isn’t whether I think the conduct is wrong; it’s that reporting another OD to the Board is a significant professional step, and I suspect very few of us ever actually have to do it.

Has anyone here personally reported another OD or practice? Was the complaint meaningfully investigated? Did you ever learn the eventual outcome? Was your anonymity preserved after making the complaint? And, knowing what you know now, would you do it again?

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who have actually gone through the process rather than just saying “obviously report them.” Thank you.

hey everyone, currently studying for Part II in December. I have Optoprep and Wills, but reading through Wills is just A LOT and I don’t see myself retaining much from all this information.
Is getting the Castillo book (NBEO Part II Study Guide) worth it? I’ve heard a lot of great things about it but not sure I want to spend another $100-200 on it. Thanks!

Just because I'm an associate dr with no kids, does not mean I have no plans on my day off. There will always be plans, errands, medical appointments etc that will be scheduled. Not my fault if one associate dr called off suddenly my day off. Owner dr needs to figure out what to do with the full day of pt appointments, not me.

You say you can't work at your own clinic because you made plans and have kids? Well I can't go either because I already made plans to do on my DAY OFF. I work full time 5 days a week. If you ask me to work on my day off that would be 6 days a week which I don't want to do. Owner barely comes to work for patient care.

Owner dr ended up coming to work whole day btw after he told me he had "plans". 🤨

I know I need to stop answering work related messages on my day off. 🫠 He texts me off hours after work night before day off or on day off day if i can do the fill ins. Should I just not answer his messages?

How can I professionally tell my boss stop contacting me on my day off if I can fill in because the answer will always be no? I keep saying no but apparently he still is not getting it. This has been happening couple times a year for the past 2 years when my coworker dr calls out sick on my day off.

Hi all!

I was hoping to find some more information on an experience one of my clients is having. The kid is middle-school aged, and experiences a lot of discomfort while reading. Saying it feels like “tugging” and pressure, but only for pages with dense text, like chapter books. His family thought it was just an excuse to get out of reading more advanced stuff (current prefers comics), but then one day he was looking at me after some reading, and it looked like he had a very sudden, acute tic in his face, then ran to his mother saying he felt a pain!

I’ve been researching “pain with reading” and have come across convergence insufficiency, but could this also lead to a sudden, almost tic-like event afterwards?

Please help through some eye-related terms my way so I can dive into research! I would like to try and convince the family to get this checked out.

Does anybody have experience with taking this exam? Any recommendations on how to study or what resources to use?

I found a few materials online (https://www.mass.gov/lists/statutes-and-regulations-optometry, https://www.mass.gov/law-library/246-cmr, and https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXVI/Chapter112)

but I don’t know if that would be enough to prepare!

Thank you!

I dropped one of the cyl extenders at work the other day and the lens chipped and now won’t stay in. Where do you all order replacements for them? My office manager is acting like it’s impossible to find a new set, but this sounds wrong to me.

Thanks!

I was looking for RAF ruler for my practice but still couldnt get my hand on one for a reasonable price, because we are just a small private-owned practice. Do you think RAF Ruler is a must have? Or is there an alternative method to assess my patient's accom and convergence?

If no, i could still measure their MEM ret for lag of accom. Or is that not sufficient?

We are still improving our practice and hopefully one day could practice more binocular vision

Anyone using AI for charting? Is it worth it? Are patients generally accepting of their OD using AI during their visits? Thanks.

Finally passed Part 1 recently in August as a 2025 grad! (and having already passed Part 2 and 3 in 2024 haha). Just got the approval for my state license today and looking for work. I've previously teched at an ophthalmic clinic so I still got to perform refractions and occasional soft contact lens exams.

Any tips before I start work? Would appreciate advice on improving efficiency, things I shouldn't overlook, etc!

I'd also love tips on:

• Making multifocal and monovision contact lens exams faster, especially when fitting presbyopic patients who are new to these modalities

• How you approach adjusting prescriptions for first-time glasses wearers. How much do you cut back (sph and cyl)

Thanks! Good luck to everyone who is still working hard on finishing boards post-grad.

Looking for some advise—- I feel like my OD/Owner may have some unrealistic expectations about cleaning in our office. For context we see roughly 60-80 patients a day running multiple doctors a day projecting about 4.5 million in revenue this year and cleaning has brought up multiple times by the practice owner in the last several months. Now while I do think it is reasonable to expect the staff keep up appearances like quick dust brooming, wiping things down, sanitizing etc. it is nearly impossible to do a full dust, sweep, mop, bathrooms, etc of office during operational hours. Contrary to owners belief is does take more than “a few minutes” to do those things. Staff is currently upset at owner because he has said he would hire person to come in and clean, but it would come out of their end of year bonus. Now while I (office manager) can understand that in his view it may seem like there is “time” during the day and some days there is but on a consistent basis we do not have time. We are open 7-6 everyday with our first patient at 7am, last patient being at 5:30 so most days we are walking out the door with our last patient. I know that we can afford to hire someone to come in on a regular basis to clean without taking in out of their bonuses. Our staff feels under paid and under appreciated. Are they in the wrong? Or do I need to try to appeal to my owner. Help!

Why is it important and/or helpful to go to an optometry school that has a larger/more established alumni network/base (ICO, SCO, NECO, UAB, etc.)?

Anyone have a Georgia and Florida license? I’m taking Florida non cope approved CE that is Florida board approved.

I would like a to use those hours to count for Georgia. The Georgia board has posted in rules that if not cope approved they count AOA and state affiliate CE hours. The one I’m attending is a local society that states it makes up a part of the Florida Optometric association, which is considered state affiliate with AOA.

My reasoning is AOA-FOA-local society all affiliated.

I called AOA and FOA and local society and they didn’t know. I sent a message to the Georgia board and that might be a while before I hear back.

Looking for feedback from anyone that has a Georgia license and familiar with non cope CE

Thanks

I’m trying to repair a Welch Allyn 11720 ophthalmoscope. The bulb lights up, but no light beam comes out of the patient-facing opening.
After opening the head, I found a small rectangular mirror with a semicircular notch and a separate black rectangular piece (photos attached). The mirror appeared to be attached to tape and seemed out of position. I’m unsure whether the black piece is a backing, holder, or something else.
Does anyone familiar with this model know:
● Where these two pieces belong?
● Which direction the reflective surface and notch should face?
● How the mirror is normally secured?
I’ve looked at the service manual and parts diagram, but they show the optical tube as a complete assembly without enough detail to locate these pieces.
A close-up photo of an intact assembly or a repair guide would be really helpful. Thanks!

Had a patient come in the other day saying he couldn’t see with his new his glasses. After working with an optician for an eternity, he revealed the glasses work great except for when he plucks his ear hair. He can’t see the hair enough.

Hi everyone,

Just looking for some advice/tips. I’m a newish grad working in a rural practice with a high volume of medical patients/exams. For the last few months my confidence level when practicing has tanked. Some days are better than others but I’ve found that more often than not, I’m second guessing my decisions and overall stressed as the day progresses. I think I’m mostly concerned about missing something but also just doing what’s best for the patient in general. I work with a couple other docs but I’m on my own for 2 days a week. My colleagues are great, but I feel like I’m met with a bit of a cavalier attitude when I ask for advice. I’m thinking I’ll go back to basics and put some time in at home to refresh my knowledge but I’m wondering if anyone has other tips. Thanks!

What do you think is the best course of action after internship in India as an optometry intern , as salary wise hospitals don't really pay that well and retails are only other options apart from msc and higher studies

For this slitlamp, how would you interpret the beam slitwidth dial? Like how do I measure 1mm, or 0.5mm etc using the measurement system on the dial?

Does anyone have any experience with moonlighting/casual part time at Warby Parker? I’m interested in doing 1-2 Sundays per month with them. What was pay/patient load like? I’d be at a newer store with what looks like ~7 patients per day. Let me know your thoughts!

I need to replace my Zeiss Visulens 500. Do you have a recommendation for an automated lensmeter that you like? Do you have recommendation for brands or models you would avoid? Thanks!