17 years as an OD, and paid off my student loans in 2019, and paid off roughly $115k. It was the last loan I paid off on our debt free (Dave Ramsey) journey since the interest was around 2.25% for most of the loan. At age 44 now I still enjoy what I do but hate dealing with insurance. The whole vision vs medical insurance debate on who to bill the exam to has been beaten to death on ODwire.
Financially would I recommend my kids to go Optometry school today? No since the ROI is not worth the gamble anymore. Debt today for an OD degree is maybe $200k+, and new grads can correct me if I'm wrong.
When I was an OD student in 2002 and did billing for an OD at Target Eyemed would reimburse $40-$48 for an Eye exam. Davis Vision was $48, and Superior Vision was $50. In year 2023 those reimbursements are still the same. VSP has moved a little bit but not much. Medicare keeps cutting reimbursements as well the past few years.
If I had to do it over being a military, VA, or rural optometrist would be my top choices. Rural being a population of around 25,000 and about an hour for a major metro area.
Best of luck
