Career in Optometry?

What do you guys think of Optometry as a career? Is it worth the investment with time and money? Pros and Cons? Also, with lasik eye surgery becoming popular, are there chances of saturation in the buisness?

Job prospects for optometry is the best. You will be guaranteed a job once you graduate. The course however, is long and very demanding and competitive. I know in Australia there are only 3 optometry schools.

The Pros for becoming an optometrist is ofcourse the satisfaction of actually contributing someone good to the community. You can offer your skills and fly to 3rd world countries. In practice, there usually are no after hours and you work until your store closes.

The industry will be not be significantly affected with the increased popularity of LASIK. People still need to get the health of their eyes regularly checked at least every 2 years regardless if LASIK was performed or not. LASIK also doesnt work for everyone, in some instances people may still need to wear glasses or contacts to correct their distance vision. LASIK also doesnt correct presbyopia, where readers are required for close working distance in the elderly.

Personally, I would only become an optometrist if I were to work at a lasik surgeons office ( doing pre-op exams) I have been in the lasik world for a few years now and the optometrist who make a lot of money work for lasik surgeons. It is a lot more interesting as well.

I don't have much of an opinion on this question, however, I do know that in the US there is only about 12 or so colleges for optometry, so you may need to relocate to go to school.

LASIK surgery is not diminishing the need for eye doctors.

You can learn something about optometry as a career by visiting the American Optometric Association's website.

There will always be patients who can't have Lasik vision correction (either because they aren't candidates, can't afford it, etc). So no worries there. Also, you can gear your studies toward therapeutic optometry. These are ODs who can diagnose and treat medical conditions of the eye (there are some procedural limitations, including eye surgeries) and are recognized by medical insurance companies in some states. Some states are even passing legislation that allow optometrists to perform Lasik, so the profession is constantly changing.
Check out the professional association websites for optometry to find out more about the different options available for practicing optometrists (American Academy of Optometry, for example).