SCCO - Admissions Optometry's Future

Admissions

Recent history – optometrists gained the rights to prescribe therapeutic pharmaceuticals:
- Optometry is now the primary entry point in the health care delivery system. Insurance payers want their members to see optometrists first!
- Third party insurance plans trust us to be the gatekeepers – optometrists decide how eye care is accessed by patients because they can treat or triage ANY ocular problem
Specialization occurring within optometric education creating more market demand for optometric services
Optometrist continuing to provide two-thirds+ of all eye care in the US
Will become even more recognized and respected as a major health care profession by all members of the medical community
U.S. ophthalmic market totaled $27.2 billion (2006 poll) which is up 6.5 percent over two years ago. Private optometry accounts for the largest share of this market – approx 39.1 percent.
Wages for optometrists have increased about 58% since 1998 when they averaged 38.60/hour...AOA News Vol 45 No17 May 8, 2007

Aging population – Baby Boomers will need eye care
Rising third party payers want full service providers – optometrists
Pre- and post-op care for Laser Vision Correction is done by optometrists/ophthalmology relies on us for this service
Occupational visual demands are greater than ever before
Optometry has the second highest small business success rate

Four years of professional school for Doctor of Optometry – entry level and ready for licensure and practice
Increasing demand for co-management of patients with MDs
Options of private practice, military, VA hospitals and HMOs
Ever-expanding professional role with possibility for LASER treatments performed by optometrists