Why I Didn’t… Ophthalmology

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Welcome to another episode of Why I Didn’t… the mostly useless series where I tell you why I did NOT pursue a specific specialty. In this episode, I discuss Ophthalmology. 👀
Ophthalmology is the medical and surgical specialty dealing with anything relating to the eyes and immediate surrounding structures. Ophtho is unique in that it’s a blend of a medical and surgical field. This is what I liked and didn’t like about the specialty and the questions you should ask yourself to determine if it’s the right fit for you.
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction
00:20 What I liked about Ophtho
10:16 What I didn’t like about Ophtho
16:20 Should You Choose Ophtho?
LINKS FROM VIDEO:
So You Want to Be an OPHTHALMOLOGIST • So You Want to Be an O...
Med School Insiders Channel / @medschoolinsiders
Get Our Specialty Competitiveness Index! medschoolinsiders.com/medical...
NP & PA vs MD & DO • NP & PA vs MD & DO | T...
Why Every Doctor Specialty Seems Competitive • Why Every Doctor Speci...
#doctorvlog #medstudent #ophthalmology
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Disclaimer: Content of this video is my opinion and does not constitute medical advice. The content and associated links provide general information for general educational purposes only. Use of this information is strictly at your own risk. Kevin Jubbal, M.D. will not assume any liability for direct or indirect losses or damages that may result from the use of information contained in this video including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death. May include affiliate links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through them (at no extra cost to you).

[@kevinjubbalmd]

I’m seeing some pushback on my discussion of optometrist scope creep so here’s some clarification. As stated in the video, I’m not calling optometrists mid-levels but functionally, the problem of mid-level scope creeping into other areas of medicine is occurring in ophthalmology with optometrists being the ones who continue to expand their scope into various procedures.

[@sbu123-hello]

From my experience shadowing and working in many optometry clinic, i definitely would not consider ODs (optometrists) as midlevels. The knowledge that these Doctors possess and how important their role in vision/patient care cannot be overlooked. Consider the schooling that they have to go through (not as much as MD/DO, but it's still a minimum of 4 years graduate level with potential for residency), I personally think they would be more than qualified for greater privileges in practice (bet it lasers or writing prescriptions depending on the state/province). They're not trying to encroach and do surgery, I feel like they're moreso just trying to be allowed to perform the full scope of optometry that they learn in school

[@DoctorEyeHealth]

Agreed!

[@CampbellsPoop]

How many years did you spend in school?

[@goldmedicine]

You mentioned ROAD is outdated - what is your updated version?

[@Synechiae]

DO ophtho resident here... My heart rate increased when you said it isn't that hard to get in. Only took me 3 match cycles... XD. Maybe I should have done your course lol As a DO many places just throw out your application. And yes the NEPOTISM! Of the places I did auditions, ~30% of residency seats were taken by individuals with a parent ophthalmologist directly associated with the respective program.

[@maureene7138]

Congrats in matching Optho as a DO!!!

[@JIMKATSANIDIS]

Excellent presentation and extremely valuable points on Ophthalmology! This useful information is greatly appreciated! Thank you for sharing it with us, Dr. Kevin! 🙌❤👍

[@presto900]

I work as an Optometric Technician currently and did throughout undergrad. I thought for a while that I wanted to be an ophthalmologist, but to me at this point starting medical school in August, I don't think I would personally want to spend my entire career focusing on such a single small organ. I absolutely love the eye. It is treatment of this organ that led me to pursue medicine in the first place, but to treat it for the rest of my life? I'm not so sure. EDIT: I wrote this before I watched the video, and its funny how much your "Why I didn't" matches up with my own reservations. Thanks for the vid, doc!

[@100subsnovideos9]

That’s the point of specialization

[@presto900]

@@100subsnovideos9 No other field of medicine is as isolated from the others as much as ophthalmology

[@ethanvandemark1792]

You definitely don’t seem like a psych guy, but I’d love a video on it because you at least had your core rotation and that experience

[@kevinjubbalmd]

in the works!

[@berryfall3055]

Hey Dr. Jubbal, just want to clarify that optometrists aren’t midlevels. They’re doctors of optometry and experts in their own field. Optometrists are primary eye care doctors and ophthalmologists are eye surgeons. Majority of optometrists go into their field knowing that they don’t want to do surgery. In my POV, the legislature pushes seems to want to expand access to patients by doing procedures they were trained to do during OD school for preventative care, not to become surgeons. Similar to how FM doctors would want to expand access for their patients. Optometrists are very essential to the primary eye care world and I fear calling optometrists mid level is misinformation. Very good video overall, I enjoyed your perspective 🫶🏽

[@KDoc-io5fo]

Thanks for the video Dr. J!

[@bigeasy1207]

Optometrist aren’t mid levels, they do way more in school than what you think. Working as a tech with an OD that graduated about a year ago, they learn safety procedures in school and there are residency opportunities to get more training for surgeries. Just because they don’t have an MD or DO doesn’t mean they can’t keep patients safe.

[@borroousjonnyson1436]

I’m currently a scribe and in the works of getting my technician certification it is definitely very monotonous. Diabetes, Glaucoma, Dry Eyes, and Cataracts are sometimes the only thing you will see in a day. However, the days where there is something super interesting feels so fulfilling!

[@sjf96]

Why are there never links in the description

[@dharshanalakshminarayanan]

was all for it until you said "optometrists are mid levels" ...

[@theodore738]

Wake up they are mid levels

[@JohnMarkMcGullion-so7qf]

“Midlevels” seriously? Do you consider dentists midlevels?

[@dharshanalakshminarayanan]

this!!

[@kevinjubbalmd]

What Why I Didn't topic should I cover next?

[@Joshua.2303]

PM&R please!

[@MarcoVz00]

Rheumatology ❤

[@Dan00509]

Psychiatry

[@rickvargas9944]

Vascular Surgery/ Transplant Surgery would be great

[@JadedbutnotJarred]

Haematology

[@KenmanG1982]

Ophthalmology in Canada is very competitive. Makes close to a million a year.

[@Nman92]

Man needs to make the hem onc video smh

[@Montadar-AlHilali]

I don’t know actually what to chose, take 4 year in ophthalmology or 7-8 years to get plastic surgery? As an IMG OPHTHALMOLOGY is very competitive and the chance to get it is very low compare with general surgery and then fellowship in plastic surgery which is can be attainable for IMGs.

[@simoruman1093]

If you have the opportunity to pursue ophthalmology, I highly recommend it. I previously explored radiology and internal medicine before transitioning to ophthalmology. Having been a specialist for five years now, I can confidently say it's one of the best decisions I've made.

[@Montadar-AlHilali]

@@simoruman1093 but because I am IMG it is very hard to get it, and I am starting to thinking in general surgery because there is chance to get it compared to very competitive ophthalmology but if you have any advance to me to continue ophthalmology road and not cancel it ,please share it with me.

[@SumayyaRehman-mp4pi]

Hey , Dr Kevin can you please do a Collab with Dr Mike pleasee pleaseee pleasee . Love your vids btw

[@joeydryoel3866]

Doctors of Optometry are not mid-level

[@mijmij8]

in canada a lot/a huge number of ophtos do > 1Mil /year in several places... needless to say its much more competitive

[@peterodriscoll2645]

Can you do OBGYN?

[@percocetzh]

What’s your new up to date ROAD?

[@buckeye5689]

You should clarify that optometrists are doctors not midlevels.

[@SeuChefemCasa]

Very good!

[@abdullahalameer5557]

You are the best!!!

[@billcook4768]

There are no ties in ophthalmology. Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.

[@BillHarrison-cf4vz]

Ouch, didn’t see the reason why you had to reiterate that some “traditional surgeons” view ophthalmology as not a real surgical subspecialty.I’ve seen it in other vids of yours too. Seems like you have that view too on a certain level. I won’t defend ophtho but just to note, microsurgery is real surgery. As simple as cataract surgery might seem, there are way more variables and complications in or outside the OR. Dare to say, ophtho is just like any other surgical subspecialties for instance if you subspecialize in hand for plastics. The only difference is it takes 3 years than 6 😉 Pointing out that there is no variability in cases is a point to inquire but to be fare even in other specialties, if you see a variety of cases doesnt really mean that you’re really an expert on that issue are you? Cheers

[@Rainbowofthefallen]

Just commenting for the algorithm 🤎

[@misteratoz]

You should do one on why you didn't do plastic surgery

[@kevinjubbalmd]

it's there in the Why I Didn't playlist!

[@holidayarmadillo8653]

"speaking of the colon..." 😅😅

[@umairch5286]

Why I didnt obgyn

[@ryugun2.059]

Why not paeds coming up?

[@magienancy]

What did you end up doing???

[@kevinjubbalmd]

Plastics and now entrepreneurship

[@bluestar5433]

Optometrists are definitely not midlevels, super disappointing to hear you say that

[@user-sb1ku5hq7h]

Well, and what are they?

[@bluethunder9102]

Ophthalmology is competitive it’s just not plastics, derm, or ent

[@kevinjubbalmd]

I go based on the data, not subjective opinion. All specialties are competitive, ophthalmology just less so than many other specialties

[@ptcapc]

@@kevinjubbalmdthe data shows top USMLE scores, unfortunately there isn’t much more data since it is SF Match. Match rates are overall still quite low especially for DO and IMG both less than 50% when lookin at those signed up in match vs those matched

[@sherifkamel3809]

Psychiatryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[@kevinjubbalmd]

Later this year!