Why and how to specialize in an optometric niche

While some states do not allow optometrists to call themselves “specialists,” this should not discourage new graduates from exploring additional training in specific areas of focus.

Here, I discuss why you should consider specializing in a specific facet of optometry and, how, specifically, to go about it.

WHY?

The first reason to consider a specialty is that it makes you a more desirable candidate by practices looking to hire an associate and grow their business. Think about it from the doctor-employer’s point of view: One recent grad presents offering primary eye care services, and the other can provide primary eye care and has a background in myopia control. Who would you lean toward hiring?

The second reason to contemplate a specialty is that it breaks up the monotony of seeing standard refractive patients throughout the day. For example, as a sports vision specialist, you could be caring for a young football player who’s having issues with eye tracking, and your next appointment could be a soccer player who’s struggling with her peripheral vision.

Another reason to consider a specialty: It can open the door to additional opportunities, such as writing or teaching, outside of patient care.

OPTOMETRIC SPECIALTIES

Dry Eye Disease

High Fashion

Holistic Care

Low Vision

Myopia Management

Neuro-Optometry

Pediatrics

Specialty Contact Lenses

Sports Vision

Vision Therapy

HOW?

To specialize in a specific facet of optometry, you must:

• Choose the specialty wisely. When I graduated from optometry school, I was absolutely in love with low vision. That said, it didn’t make sense for me to specialize in it when I opened my practice cold because my patient population had absolutely no low vision demands. To top it off, my practice was less than 5 miles away from a state-of-the-art hospital that offered a fantastic low vision clinic. I soon learned that my patient population was in great need of comprehensive dry eye disease management and specialty contact lenses, so I began specializing in those areas of practice. (Find other “Optometric Specialties” options at left.)
• Acquire education on the specialty. Several different avenues can be taken to become an expert within an optometric discipline. One of the most common ways for students and recent graduates to gain this additional training is through a residency or fellowship. (To search for specific residencies, visit bit.ly/39Z8hOj ; for additional information regarding residencies and frequently asked questions, visit bit.ly/2PydL9z .) For those who don’t pursue a residency, don’t worry; you didn’t miss the boat! You can find a mentor who can serve as a coach to guide your training by asking someone you admire. Professional mentorship programs, such as Vision Source NEXT, allow you to search for mentors who have already agreed to take on a mentee.

Finally, see “Niche Necessities” at bit.ly/2Xmrep0 to see how you can make your specialty a success. OM

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DR. O’BRIEN is an associate at Vision Source Studio 20/20 in Charlotte, NC. She is heavily involved in private practice student programming with Optometric Insights, the Vision Source MentorOD Program and, works with iCare Advisors to help others pursue their cold-start private-practice dreams.