Pupillary Pathways

Have you ever wondered if you’ll be stuck in clinic all day every day after graduation and boards?

You can be if you want to, but there’s always room for more! In this day and age, optometry is dynamic. Many are pursuing Non-clinical jobs as side hustles.

Have you ever thought about what else you can do with an optometry degree? Though there are many options in clinical care, there may be a number of reasons you would like to branch out.  Whether you’re waiting on board exam results and looking for a job, or in limbo for your state license, a job as a Medical Science Liaison may be right for you. 

So what is a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) and what do they do?

I recently read an article about careers in which women are least likely to have children. When I clicked on the link I did not expect to see that our profession, optometry, was at the very top of the list! Taking the number 1 spot, this article noted that 47% of women ODs do not have kids!

Most of us young ODs or optometry students are considered part of the millennial generation (whether we like it or not). With that being said, our generation is known for doing things differently, especially when it comes to looking for jobs.

I recently read an article in Women in Optometry that had polled a group of optometrists about their satisfaction with their career choice. The results were shocking to me. I couldn’t believe that almost 50% of optometrists who were asked “If you were to start your career in optometry today, what path would you take?” stated that they would “not choose optometry.”

Hiring eyecare professionals can be a massive headache.

Luckily, there are several services out there that can help you attract the right talent. Some of the services allow you to post your job, others allow you to reach out to candidates actively, and others will automate the job posting process across the internet for greatest exposure.

Congratulations optometry student! You recently graduated after surviving 4 grueling years of optometry school, you had time to take a vacation this summer to reward yourself, you just signed a contract for a new job, and you will actually start making some money!

How exciting your new life as a doctor is! Until… your first student loan statement comes in the mail. This is going to be a wakeup call. It is going to seem overwhelming. And it will get you down. But… here at OptoPrep, we’ve come up with several tips to help optometry grads manage your student loan debt and keep on top of your payments. 

As you know, optometry school is a full time job. Many of you have been living and breathing all things optometry for the past several months and are ready for a much anticipated summer break.

While you do deserve some time away from classes, studying, and clinic, OptoPrep recommends that you still remain connected to the profession as your life slows down a bit during these summer days.