How many would agree that canada is saturated with OD's?
If there is a saturation, how would it be effecting the opticians in Canada?
If there is not a saturation of OD's, how would it effect the opticians in Canada?
Are optometrists a vital part of the success of the optician and vice versa?
It just seems to me, if OD's and opticians work together, both parties would benefit, rivaling Ophthalmologists.
although i agree...good luck! This debate has been on the table for decadesOriginally Posted by gochi
Apples/Oranges comparing ophthalmologists to optometrists.
If all three O's could team up, the public would be well served. Currently co-operation of optometry in this concept is not on the radar screen.
How do you envision opticians and optometrists teaming up? I would have to say that many locations in Canada are saturated with OD's, I bet you can get a non-urgent exam same day in any city in Canada with a population >75,000.
A non-urgent same day eye exam doesn't necessarily prove saturation. There will always be those 'last-minute high expectation' consumers; a same day eye exam is great service! Although OD's love to see every time slot booked solid every day (also for revenue), there should be at least a couple of slots a day to accomodate these patients - charge them a premium to offset the lost revenue.
Having 100% of the population waiting weeks or months for an exam takes us back to the times of prohibition.
Ever try to get a walk-in appointment with your dentist or chiropractor or any other health professional? I think eyecare has traditionally been the only sector where this really exists. I agree that you should not have to wait months for an appointment, but having a health care professional waiting around for walk-ins..? The open slots that should be kept daily are meant for ocular emergencies, not necessarily as a mere convenience.
Of course, there are walk-in and urgent care medical clinics that have sprung up that offer triage, a quick Rx for antibiotics or pain and little more to get you by until you can see your own family doc.
The only reason you can't get a walk-in appointment with the dentists around here is because they only work 3 days a week.
I have given this question serious thought over the last several days, and Oedema, and I can't come up with an answer.....just what if's, that collide with different agendas. I still believe that if all 3 O's could show a common serious front with issues, unlike situations in the past, the public would be better served.
It's circa 2010. Businesses and health services should be about quality, service and convenience. We have to stop doing things the old way and accept positive change.
For starters, have both Colleges shake hands, accept change and allow us to freely associate without restrictions or penalties. An optician should not be required to revoke his/her licence - this is ludicrous. Freedom of association and all the way to the bank is what I say!
IRIS seems to be doing ok.
Correct...not only that, they are all getting along and prospering at the same time.
nice thought, but if optometrists are sitting on their hands half the day waiting for patients to decide they need an eye exam NOW, then optometry is not an economically feasible profession, especially if we're only getting OHIP/equivalent fees in many cases. There are frankly already enough OD's in this country that are underutilized and work in under-equipped practices/back of an optical store.
I didn't say 'half' their time. I indicated a couple of appt slots per day - so 40 mins seems like an accurate projection?
but the reality is that there are already OD's out there that have half their day open...
More reason to join a colleague and share creativity, ideas and overhead.
Can somebody comment more on saturation etc?
thanks
I would if this were the case.
Well, I don't know about other provinces, but here in Vancouver, there are a lot of Optoms/Opticians.
Many optometrists offer walk-ins, but it seems the optical stores almost always have people walking in and out.
I need one in ontario
That is odd stiff. Last I recall, Waterloo and UOMont. were pumping out aprox 200 grads each year. How are you having difficulty finding an OD when the province where you are situated graduates a good amount of OD's ?
Perahaps a more significant factor is the number of optical stores which have increased dramatically with the big box stores and grocery stores adding optical retail. As well, the supply and demand for opticians could also be examined.
Waterloo increased their class size from 60 to 90 in 2007, and there are more OD's coming from the US and abroad than in the past.
Ultimately, however, the demand for optometric services depends on the needs of the population, not necessarily the number of openings at commercial locations.
Exactly, every optical would be happy to put a barebones lane of equipment in and have a doctor come and see patients, but there are not that many optometrists that will find satisfaction working in an environment where there limited by the instrumentation and full of patients with the annoying mentality that patients in the optical store tend to have (walkins, quicky exams, refuse dilation) I know, I've been there, done that, absolutely hated it.
ODs and opticians will never work together for one main reason. GLA$$E$. When one or both finds something more lucrative than selling glasses, then you might see some cooperation.
When two elephants fight, do you know who loses? The ants.
ODs and opticans are just ants fighting against each other while the internet giants and retail giants fight to the death.
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Time to get real doc. The chain stores are filled (to the brim) with what must be miserable, unsatisfied OD's. Obviously, that "paycheck" they are getting that is helping to pay off their school loans, as well as their Lexus payment must be having some type of positive effect on their psyche...
Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry
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