Rarely does a Pop-up Poll show such a diversity of answers, but when Women In Optometry and Review of Optometric Business asked readers how they were inspired to pursue optometry, the answers ranged widely. It reflects how sometimes seemingly chance encounters can impact someone’s career choice.
Respondents were asked if there was an individual who inspired their career choice. Among those who answered yes, a childhood OD was the most common response, with 29% of the respondents. Familiarity with the profession was another big influencer. Twenty-four percent of the respondents said that an immediate family member was an optometrist.
The next largest response category, 22%, was by eye care providers who networked with or met ODs as adults. Eleven percent gave a shout out to a family friend, a Scout master, a classmate, another student or some other person who had some connection to optometry. Nine percent credited a high school teacher or college professor for giving them a nudge in this direction, and five percent said they researched the field on their own.
Nearly all of the inspiration was positive, but there were exceptions. One female OD wrote, “As an optician I worked with an OD who was awful, and I knew I could do better. So I did.”
EVENTS THAT INSPIRED
Respondents were also asked to say if there was an event or events that inspired them to pursue an eye care profession. Respondents were allowed to select more than one response.
- While the personal stories about inspiration coming from an individual were many, the plurality of respondents, 49% , said they found optometry on their own after researching different health care careers.
- A close second was with 42% of the respondents saying that they personally had visual challenges or personal interaction with an eye care provider as a child.
- Twenty-four percent learned about optometry as a student.
- Nine percent saw the impact that visual challenges had on a family member.
- Eight percent said that a member of the family was an OD.
Some respondents wrote in that a fraternity brother or a student friend was going to optometry school, so they learned about the option that way.
Several cited the opportunity that optometry provides to help others. “Perhaps even more [than a personal experience with contact lenses and eyeglasses, I had] a profound fascination with the operation of our most precious gift.”
Some pointed out that other health care providers suggested the importance of eye care in a community. “An uncle who is a pharmacist saw the impact that ODs were having in his community and told me to consider optometry as a career. I researched and loved the fact that I could make a difference in giving others sight and jumped in wholeheartedly. The rest is a history story of over 30 years … still loving it.”
Among those who had an early interaction with an eye care provider, the memories take hold. One male OD wrote, “I had my first eye exam at age 7 with the famous Ramon Castroviejo, MD. During that exam, I told my mom that this is what I want to do when I get older.”
Also read these stories of inspiration for an optometry career.
