Optometry forum
Do you think ophthalmology and optometry can become one program? |
ciara
16-08-2007 08:17
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Re: Do you think ophthalmology and optometry can become one program? |
keane
16-08-2007 08:18
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Won't happen because they hate each other. Period.
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Re: Do you think ophthalmology and optometry can become one program? |
ava
16-08-2007 08:19
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Prior to the 1970's, ODs weren't able to use DPAs and TPAs. It may not seem like it to you, but if you think about it, that was a huge breach into the OMD's perimeter. Now it's everyday practice to use such drugs. So basically I think it's definitely possible as long as there's support (i.e. the AOA). But honestly we need to mobilize a huge majority of the optometrists out there to make any kind of progress, if that's even possible
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Re: Do you think ophthalmology and optometry can become one program? |
estralla
16-08-2007 08:20
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Oh boy.... I can see where this one is going to go.
And I'm really glad that you don't have the power to change the eye care profession and education today because if you are really a pre-optometry student as your profile has suggested, then you are nowhere close enough to having anywhere near an adequate frame of reference on these issues to even think of offering up an opinion.
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Re: Do you think ophthalmology and optometry can become one program? |
danica
16-08-2007 08:21
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Scary...you took the words right out of my mouth.
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Re: Do you think ophthalmology and optometry can become one program? |
emerson
16-08-2007 08:22
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I have to say what you suggest is innovative and makes a hell of a lot of sense. (I am cringing because of the ensuing backlash that is sure to come on here! lol) I am early in my optometric education and considerably older than the average optometry student so I have an "open mind." I have had a course in the "history of optometry" and done some considerable research (for about a year) when I worked in the field before attending OD School. From 1970 and on the Optometry profession has had hundreds of legal battles, legislative actions, in all 50 states to secure DPA's (Diagnostic Pharmaceutical Agents) and TPA's Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents) with every state currently having Oral Medications with the exception of Florida, Illinois, and I believe a couple other states. Medicine (specifically Ophthalmology) would like nothing better than OD's to be refracting opticians and not the Optometric Physicians they currently are. At an organizational level these professions absolutely hate each other. At the practioner level it depends but OD's and OMD's many times cooperate for the sake of business-----or if I want to put it with a sugar coating "the benefit of the patient."--not to say they are not genuinely caring OD's and OMD's----> there definitely are but business is business. Your points I believe have great merit----look at 5 and 6-yr Ophthalmology programs in Europe and Japan---it can be done. Practitioners get endoctrinated in their respective professions and your idea would not be well recieved by most OD's or OMD's. If you recommend something that involves drastic change----> Ophthalmology gets defensive and feels, "OH you CANNOT abbreviate our 8 years of training----you will blind people (1970's they said OD's would blind patients with Atropine, now in response to an optometric surgical bill that PASSED in New Mexico they stopped running ads of "OD's learning surgery over dinner---using farm animals)----they really want to maintain foothold on turf, prestige, and money. Optometry would think that you were implying that you were trying to move too far away from its roots in optics and --->"you should just go to medical school if you want to do that!" I LOVE Optometry but I realize that change is enevitable and very slow. I am very happy with Optometry the way it is now BUT I would "go with the flow" if a big change occured. Professional Evolution is good. Don't feel bad that the other posters on here "blew you up" because you are thinking and that is great.
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Re: Do you think ophthalmology and optometry can become one program? |
tallan
16-08-2007 08:23
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Most of us know that this makes way too much sense to ever work. We'll just keep arguing and bickering to grab as much of the almighty dollar as possible. To me, the basic sciences that are similarly loaded into Optometry, med school, and dentistry are a complete redundant waste of time. These are already pre-reqs. Residencies and Fellowships are fancy words for apprenticeships.
Spend less time learning more about what you will actually be doing? That's crazy talk.
Instead of my 4 years of OD school and extra year of fellowship/residency, I would rather have had 3 years of OD school and 2 years of fellowship/residency. Learning how to listen for different heart conditions with a stethoscope has really paid off!
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Re: Do you think ophthalmology and optometry can become one program? |
lanod
16-08-2007 08:25
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Well....here comes the backlash.
The fact that Al Michaels might know a lot about football doesn't mean that we are going to make him the head coach of a football team.
The argument that you have some experience in the industry simply doesn't hold water. Simply because you have worked around some doctors in the past does not in any way qualify you to offer up an opinion as to what their training or scope of practice should be anymore than a flight attendant for Continental Airlines is qualified to offer up an opinion on how many flight hours a pilot needs to be certified to fly a 747.
Let me suggest that you at least get through your training before you start offering up suggestions on how to change it.
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Re: Do you think ophthalmology and optometry can become one program? |
ciara
16-08-2007 08:29
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the only people qualified (IMHO) to make a decision are people that have gone through both programs, that teach both programs, or are involved in designing the curriculum for these programs. there are just too many factors that just comparing the syllabus or credit hours isnt enough.
and of course, itll never happen, optometry will be dead before opth and optometry get together (friends or program wise )
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