Hi everyone, I’m a student/intern in optometry and I’m trying to better understand pediatric prescribing.
For example, say you have a 4-year-old child:
Pre-cycloplegic refraction: +2.00 DS OU
Post-cycloplegic refraction: -0.25 DS OU
Assume good VA, no strabismus/esotropia, and otherwise normal ocular health.
Would you prescribe the -0.25 DS OU based on the cycloplegic result, or would you consider the pre-cyclo result/clinical findings and possibly prescribe plano or some amount of plus instead?

Basically, how do you approach a situation where the cycloplegic result is significantly more minus than the non-cycloplegic result in a young child?
What factors would you consider before deciding the final Rx (VA, binocular status, near findings, accommodative behavior, symptoms, etc.)?

Would appreciate hearing how experienced pediatric optometrists/ophthalmologists approach this. Thanks!

Edit: Sorry, I think I explained my question wrong 😅 The example I gave was just something I made up because I was confused. My main question is really: How do you decide when to prescribe an Rx for a pediatric patient, and when do you prescribe the full correction versus a partial correction or no correction at all? Hehe. I’d really appreciate any guidance!

Has anyone had experience with AEG? How was the transition? How did they treat you? Did your schedule change? Any helpful tips or advice appreciated. I’m an OD.

Trying to decide if I should stick it out or walk

I work at a small privately owned store in the Pacific NW. We have an amazing optometrist about to start maternity leave and only need a part-time OD to work for 3-4 months. For the OD's on this site, where do you go to look for work or contract work? I'm hesitant to use the "other" big job boards given the lack of traction on Indeed, and the sheer amount of competing postings. I've been lurking around this Reddit group for the past couple months and saw a tip about a website called Peared but unfortunately they're not active here in the PNW. Our company atmosphere is amazing / fun, we are focused on people vs metrics, we pay very well and straight up feel like we are making a positive difference! Any ideas? Anyone use locum tenens? Please help and thank you in advance for your input / advice / thoughts / tips.

Would you Rx specs for young patients (kids) with low myopia or low astigmatism who are still close to 20/20 with no symptoms.

Would you do full time wear?

Since undercorrected myopia leads to progression

Hello, I'm an Office Manager working in a small privately owned store in the Pacific NW. We are urgently looking for a part-time optometrist to cover maternity leave. We have spent ridiculous amounts of money on Indeed only to attract one applicant (who hasn't responded to my initial attempts to discuss the job). I'm hesitant to use the "other" big job boards given the lack of interest and the sheer amount of competing postings. I found a Facebook page for Young OD's but it looks like only OD's can post. I've been lurking around this Reddit group for the past couple months and saw a tip about a website called Peared but unfortunately they're not active here in the PNW. Our company atmosphere is amazing / fun, we are focused on people vs metrics, we pay very well and straight up feel like we are making a positive difference! I'm incredibly frustrated by the lack of traction we are getting and a bit anxious that we won't be able to find someone. Any ideas? Anyone use locum tenens? Please help and thank you in advance for your input!

We've been looking for better ways to increase patient reviews without making the process feel pushy. For those managing optometry or healthcare practices, what's been most effective for you?
We've had better success when review requests are sent automatically after a visit rather than relying on staff to remember. Curious what strategies are working for other offices.
#WeaveOffice

I was primarily relying on online continuing education courses to fulfill my previous license renewals. Since the guidelines have changed in which we must complete 30 credits in person, does anyone have any recommendations for any conferences/symposiums?

I only see NJSOP as the main provider.

Or options where there are maybe 1-2 credits offered at a moment in time and not a full blown conference. Thank you

Hi everyone! I’m looking for advice on what I should reasonably negotiate for when my current contract is up.

I’m residency trained and 5 years out of OD school. I work full-time for a corporate practice in a higher cost-of-living area. My current compensation is in the mid-$180k range with a modest production ($500-1000) bonus. I’d like to negotiate both my base salary and PTO.

I typically see 20-25 patients per day. Our no show rate is low. I work alongside a long-tenured OD who is expected to significantly reduce their hours soon, and many of those patients may eventually transition to me.

I know my production is somewhat affected by differences in patient demographics compared with the other doctor, but I feel that I bring a lot of value to the practice. I’m efficient, thorough, work well with staff, and am always willing to accommodate medical walk-ins, emergencies, and will double-book patients when needed.

The company also has significant turnover, so I’m curious how much leverage that may give me when negotiating.

For those in corporate optometry, what would you consider reasonable to ask for regarding salary and PTO? What factors would you use to determine your negotiating position?

Would especially appreciate advice from anyone who has recently negotiated a contract renewal!

TIA!

Hey! Has anyone worked for a telehealth optometric company and had a good experience? I'm temporarily living in FL while my husband finishes a one year fellowship. I was looking at remote optometry positions to get me through the year and maybe avoid some annoying licensing logistics (esp here in FL). Any advice or experience? I interviewed with Digital Optometrics and I'm waiting to hear back from Lenscrafters telehealth option. Appreciate any and all feedback!

Hello,

I have called several optometry offices about shadowing opportunities and no luck. They typically tell me to send an email and don't respond to the email :(.

Is anyone in this thread near the greater houston area and would be willing to allow me to shadow them. I really appreciate it. Please let me know and I can DM you.

Thank you everyone for the wonderful advice!

Does anyone else see the strong 3D effect that makes the grayscale image stand out against the red monochrome images?

I don't know if it's intentional but it's striking.

Hello Drs,

I’m just curious to hear what your motivations were in starting your own clinic. How many years did it take you towards making that decision? How much information did you gather and research did you do before diving into taking the risk and investing? Did it ever feel scary? What was the biggest takeaway after? Did something surprise you when you started (what aspect of running a business seemed the hardest)

I’m myself an immigrant, taken loans to get through school as do many and though I have an intent to become an owner down the road, I’m having a hard time visualizing that far ahead (totally not a student, please don’t kick this mods). So I wanted to hear some inspirational stories on how yall got there if you’d be willing to share? Or through DM!

Many thanks

Had anyone managed to do well enough to skip the bridging program of two years and been allowed to sit the OEBC exam straight away?

I came from the UK and I have been preparing for the IOGEE Exam with everything in me for the past year. As I haven’t got the option to study for 2 years at Waterloo university due to the having little kids including a baby.

Anyone know someone that has actually managed to bypay the bridging program?

Many thanks
Riri

hello! curious with the universal heath is reimbursing in different provinces.

in mb, its ~53 for a CEE, with ~12 for tono

~27 for partial, ~25ish for dilation

esp if youre from BC -- I am curious!

Looking to work in academia and have seen very low base pay. For those of you who work in academia, is this accurate?

Associate professor salary ranges $100-120k.

Currently working in PP and make $170k seeing low volume and mix of routine/medical.

I realize academia will always pay less than corporate or PP but the difference was staggering to see.

Hello Reddit!

I work in corporate optometry as an Optometric Technician. I had always wanted to be in the medical field since I was in high school. It wasn’t until the beginning of June that I was able to finally get that breakthrough I have been dreaming of. Though now, I am currently second guessing my job all because of remote exams. I have to see 24 patients regularly and I am one of two techs. It is very possible to see all of them when it's a remote exam, when both my trainer and I are present. Unfortunately, on days when I am by myself performing exams, its a completely different story. I love working with patients and feel such a terrible guilt knowing that I am not two people, knowing I am doing the job of two people, with patients wanting to be seen. At my location, we have an optometrist who is working one day a week with us as an in house doctor, and its such a relief on that specific day even if I am the only tech scheduled. If anyone knows of any optometrists/ophthalmopologists that is willing to spare a day once a week, or however many days they want to a month, within corporate optometry - please let me know. I am not looking as a recruiter (since I'm not one), but more so because I want to learn alongside doctors I trust and respect, without the interference of remote exams handicapping me.

Anyone who is an OD/MD who is open to the opportunity to work regularly or sporadically - this will be a location in Ocala, Florida.

Original article from Sydney Herald Sun: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/specsavers-told-nicole-she-needed-glasses-then-she-had-a-car-accident-20260804-p60lec.html

I have signed up for the Certified Paraoptometric Assistant exam in November. I barely passed the CPO exam last November, but I'm determined. I have worked in a private practice for almost 2 years now and have picked up a lot of information, but I want to make sure I know what to focus on for studying. I have printed the AOA outline and some other things I've found. I've had chatgpt make me a lot of practice tests and wrote all those down as well and play around on quizlet. I feel like I'm over doing it and overwhelming myself with too much that's probably unnecessary. If you have taken it, do you remember any topics that specifically came up that I might want to study? Thanks!

Hello

I know this can vary broadly (by location, by rent/lease, # of OD and staff, etc) but I’m wondering what the general overhead I can expect owning a clinic. TIA

Hi,

I am an optometrist in Texas and I also have a Florida license, where I used to live. I am never really planning to move back to Florida.

I know Florida optometrist license is very difficult to get and I fly every other year to Florida to take 2 hours of live CE classes ( jurisprudence and medical errors because you have to take it live in person ? ) but it’s just getting hard to fly to Florida just for 2 hours of CE every other year.

Do you guys recommend keeping Florida license for job security reasons if I ever become jobless in Texas, or just give up the Florida optometrist license because I won’t really ever use it ? ( or maybe I can do online/virtual exams of Florida patients while sitting in Texas ? )

Can any smart senior optometrist please guide me ?

Thank you in advance