Optometrists in demand or is there an oversupply? (1 Viewer)

[Mature Lamb]

I've been looking around on MSO but the posts are 4-5 years old so I'm not sure if things have changed now. I know there's an undersupply of optometrists in rural areas, but how about areas around South-West Sydney (Liverpool, Campbelltown)? At the moment I don't plan on moving to the middle of nowhere to make big $$$ but I'd still like to make a living by opening up around Liverpool.

aaaannnddd do optometrists still have the 2nd highest starting salary? I remember reading somewhere that some engineers now make 70-80k out of uni or maybe I'm talking shit..

 

[Jaundice]

There was a demand for optometrists like 5-10 years ago.

In the last 5 years many optometry's have opened up - more than necessary. You go into some shopping centres and they have up to 5 optometrists.

Apparently small business optometry will be dead and bought out by larger corporations.

Eg. Big W has optometrists.

 

[Mature Lamb]

There was a demand for optometrists like 5-10 years ago.

In the last 5 years many optometry's have opened up - more than necessary. You go into some shopping centres and they have up to 5 optometrists.

Apparently small business optometry will be dead and bought out by larger corporations.

Eg. Big W has optometrists.

Looks like I'm fucked then unless Big W has decent pay

 

[meilz92]

yeah there is a demand

in the UK

 

[Azure]

Even if they do, I wouldn't really feel comfortable going into Big W for something like that. Plus, from my understanding many optometrists have a reputation for charging a crap load and really not giving customers a sense of true value.

 

[Mature Lamb]

yeah there is a demand

in the UK

you mean dentists?

 

[Alkanes]

ahh man just relax ur sacks atm. There will be a huge demands of optometrist in the future. Too much young kids are on the computer today, playing games and doing shit which will eventually make em short-sighted. So these kids will need you my friend!

 

[Jaundice]

Don't get me wrong there will be demand but the larger corporations are trying to buy out optometry among other things in this country.

Don't stress.

 

[NewiJapper]

I reckon there is a MASSIVE!!!! market for orthodontics in Japan. When I went there, the majority of people were like, what are braces? What are those things on your teeth? :|

 

[Jaundice]

yeah but they'd probably invent some sort of super braces soon
damn speedy asains

 

[Omnipotence]

Why not post on MSO then?

 

[meilz92]

you mean dentists?

no i mean all allied health professionals

 

[meilz92]

i would've loved to have done a course in allied health, but i chose not to because of the lack of job prospects.
thats why im stuck doing B Com/B Sc, and wont even use the science part. Would've much preferred to do a B Hlth Sc or B Med Sc and study any of the following: dietetics, optometry, physiotherapy or psychology.

Sigh... now im feeling depressed about what could have been. Dw about job prospects, just do something you love, don't end up like me. If you're determined, you'll make it work.

 

[Dr_Fresh]

def oversupply imo. i see optometrists everywhere and all of them are the same: glorified salespeople. all focused on making a quick buck from selling their products which gives them a pretty bad reputation. kinda like those dud bulk billing GPs you see (5 min consultations and prescribing you drugs you dont need in order to reap the benefits from the 'big pharma').

 

[sinophile]

Unfortunately, BoS isnt the best forum to ask this question. You should try Whirlpool's jobs forum, where there are a number of professional dentists lurking the forums.

I reckon there is a MASSIVE!!!! market for orthodontics in Japan. When I went there, the majority of people were like, what are braces? What are those things on your teeth? :|

The Japanese actually find crooked teeth cute. A lot of popular idols have them.

 

[meilz92]

also theres some government website which shows job prospects but i cant remember it

but yeah, if you are genuinely interested in and passionate about optometry, doet and you will make it. if you're just doing it because you cant think of anything better to do, i wouldnt do it.