Finances

Are There Too Many Optometry Schools?

By Gary Gerber, OD

January 7, 2015

***Scroll to end of article to view three related videos***

Our profession is hotly debating the issue: Are there too many optometrists now in practice and too many optometry schools turning out more?

This issue was stoked by the June 2014 publication of the AOA/ASCO Workforce Study. Authors of the study argue that, at present, we have adequate capacity, but add: The average OD could see 19.8 percent more patients. They further state that, as more patients access eyecare through the Affordable Care Act, optometry is well positioned to handle the swell.

So, is the supply of ODs “adequate” or not? A lot of folks still wonder.

I tackled the subject, “Are there too many optometrists and too many schools?” on a recent Power Hour radio broadcast:

With iTunes, Click HERE to download and listen to the broadcast:
Without iTunes: Click HERE to download and listen to the broadcast

I was delighted to have as my guest Jennifer Coyle, OD, Dean of Pacific College of Optometry, and President of ASCO. Jennifer laid out the methodology of the study, and she reiterated the viewpoint that optometry is in the catbird seat to handle the growing number of comprehensive exams and medical eyecare needs in the future. She understandably declined comment on the question of too many OD schools, since her comments could constitute restraint of trade.

Then, I cast a shadow over this sunny landscape of optometry’s future: technology.

Technology in eyecare, particularly in refraction instruments, is rapidly changing in amazing ways–and consumers know it. Soon will come the day when consumers self-refract, on their computer screen or via a smartphone. They may present in your office–if they present at all–with their Rx already on their phones. Furthermore, we hear a common marketing message from instrument manufacturers: “New technology saves you time on every patient exam.” So what are we going to do with this extra time?

Two utilizations:
1) See more patients

2) Provide more in-depth eyecare

Seeing more patients is doable. We can gear our practices toward higher patient volumes. But professional fees may wither under that model. We’ll work more for less, not a great long-term strategy.

Providing more in-depth eyecare sounds goods. But how do we establish the value of the services we provide? That’s been a daunting challenge and imperative in the past; and even more so in the future.

So, the debate over “too many ODs, too many OD schools” pales by comparison to the march of technology. We can argue over how we manage our numbers, but I’m reminded of an expression: “Man plans, God laughs.” Only this time, the one laughing is a 26-year-old engineer launching a new app that obsoletes the “better-or-worse” function we provide. Take a look at the videos featured at the end of this article, and you’ll see what I mean.

The fact is, refraction will get faster and better. OCTs and fundus photos might function via a webcam or iPhone. Yes, there will be hitches and limitations in new technology, but the bugs will get worked out. In the end, we will be left with more time. What’s more, we must move from being “acuity testers” to “expert interpreters” of a wide range of medical data that is collected in an instant.

Technology will drive the future delivery of eyecare in America way further than the number of OD schools.

For a preview of that future, take a look at the following videos of one of a number of new refraction systems that will change the way we work.

Three ROB”Technology Update” Videos

“ALook atSVOne”

A New Rx Instrument
Technology & Opportunities
How It Works

Smart Vision One (SVOne) from Smart Vision Labs is a handheld refraction instrument that works in conjunction with a smartphone. Yaopeng Zhou, co-founder of Smart Vision Labs, describes howSVOne utilizes wavefront technology to provide a highly detailed refraction in seconds. He further notes the capacity to analyze the potentially vast amounts of data in this cloud-based system.

Since SVOne is portable, and the data it generates is stored in a cloud, both doctor and patient are freed from the confines of the eyecare practice in order to derive an Rx. Marc Albanese, co-founder of Smart Vision Labs, discusses how a handheld Rx unit can eliminate bottlenecks in a conventional office and also open up opportunities outside the office.

The co-founders of Smart Vision Labs demonstrate a refraction with SVOne, which utilizes wavefront technology to create a map of the eye.

About Smart Vision Labs…

Smart Vision Labs produces Smart Vision One (SVOne), an accurate, smart, ultra-portable auto-refractor for the modern office and beyond. With a single click, the device determines a patient’s prescription by capturing a wavefront map of the eye. It is especially useful for doctors with multiple lanes or limited space who want to increase revenue per OD hour, and for doctors who perform exams outside the office setting (e.g., nursing homes, schools, workplace, medical mission trips). To learn more, visit www.smartvisionlabs.com or call (646) 873-6942. The SVOne is available for presale at www.smartvisionlabs.com/preorder.

Gary Gerber, OD, is Chief Dream Officer of The Power Practice and host of The Power Hour, a weekly call-in radio show for optometrists. To contact him: drgerber@powerpractice.com

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