Anyone in any industry can get tired of their job. But when you embrace the tools and opportunities available to optometry, it’s possible to map out a career that delivers lifelong professional satisfaction, writes Andrew McKinnon.
Firstly, it would be remiss of me not to welcome back ODMAFair, which returns to Sydney in its full glory for the first time in several years, from 27–29 June. And to add to the merriment, Optometry NSW/ACT’S Super Sunday conference will partner with ODMAFair, providing an entire Sunday of the highest quality clinical education.
There is no better excuse needed to plan a weekend in and around Darling Harbour, taking in the latest designs and innovations in ophthalmics, and rounding it off with some superlative education. Don’t delay, make your plans today!
Find Your Hidden Creative
I read an article recently on an Australian artificial intelligence (AI) platform called ‘Springboards’. The tagline of Springboards is “a creative tool to inspire, not give you the answers”.
Springboards turns AI on its head – instead of driving answers down the same pathway, it looks for creative possibilities. It is designed to spark creative thought (it’s used in advertising agencies).
It struck me that the rationale behind Springboards is also pretty relevant to optometry – and what the future might look like for us. At present, we hear a lot about AI and its potential to take over a lot of tasks, including refraction, some diagnostic assessments, and more. But what AI isn’t is creative; that takes a person.
So, in an age where more and more larger organisations seem increasingly similar in their offerings, smaller groups and independents have a chance to take the Springboards approach – think laterally, be different, take a different look at your business model – stand out!
… why should we be surprised that at any given point in time, 10% of a workforce is thinking about changing careers
Hold On to Opportunities
I’m going to ask you to make me a promise – and that promise is to never utter the words “oh no, not more on myopia”.
When I first started in my role here, optometry owned the contact lens market. But over the years, through a variety of maladies, optometry lost that market.
Grand View Research estimates that the Australian contact lens market was worth US$312m in 2023 and that it will grow to $708m in 2030.1 That’s money that could have been going through the pockets of optometrists but now largely doesn’t.
We can’t let the same thing happen with myopia. Optometrists are uniquely placed to play the leading role in myopia management, both now and into the future. But we must work at it.
My extremely limited understanding of myopia tells me that our clinical knowledge in this space is likely to grow in quantum leaps in the next 10 years – both about the condition and how to manage it most effectively. Unless we stay at the forefront of that knowledge explosion we’ll be left behind. Let’s collectively make sure that doesn’t happen.
Nothing Unique in a Change
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) recently released a study that showed about 10% of optometrists are considering leaving the profession.2 While that number isn’t particularly good news, it shouldn’t be viewed as an issue unique to optometry.
In November 2024, Lawyers Weekly reported that almost one in 10 lawyers are looking to leave their profession within a year.3 Accountants Daily reported in June 2023 that 36% of accountants were seriously considering leaving the profession within five years.4 The New Daily reports that 30% of vets plan to leave the industry within five years.5
Some estimate that current professionals will go through three to seven changes of career (not jobs, careers) in their working life.6 So why should we be surprised that at any given point in time, 10% of a workforce is thinking about changing careers?
It is a matter of fact that many elements of professional practice, be it law, accounting, physio, optometry or most other things, are routine. Lawyers drown under repetitive conveyancing work – they could do it in their sleep. We do refractions ad-infinitum… the list goes on.
But what makes professional practice ultimately rewarding are the challenges; the difficult patient you managed to help, the expansion of your clinical scope into new areas, overseas aid work, visits to remote communities, and much more.
This is why people become professionals and why most of them remain in their profession.
But for some it doesn’t work, and they’ll seek a different role – and that has been the case since time began.
Andrew McKinnon is the Chief Executive Officer of Optometry Australia New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory.
References
- View Research, Contact Lenses Market Size and Trends, available at: grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/contact-lenses-market [accessed March 2025].
- Ahpra, Research provides clues to boost health workforce retention (media release, 12 Feb 2025) available at: ahpra.gov.au/News/2025-02-12-WRAP-media-release.aspx [accessed March 2025].
- Robbie G, Nearly 1 in 10 lawyers plan to leave the profession within the year, Lawyers Weekly, 2024 November 8. Available at: lawyersweekly.com.au/biglaw/40938-nearly-1-in-10-lawyers-plan-to-leave-the-profession-within-the-year [accessed March 2025].
- Needs J, Over a third of accountants are considering leaving in the next 5 years, Accountants Daily 2023 June 5. Available at: accountantsdaily.com.au/business/18620-over-a-third-of-accountants-are-considering-leaving-in-next-five-years [accessed March 2025].
- Cant A, Vets are struggling with mental health and looking for an out. The New Daily. 2022 Nov 9, available at: thenewdaily.com.au/work/2022/11/09/vets-australia-mental-health-career [accessed March 2025].
- University of Queensland, How many career changes in a lifetime? (webpage) available at: study.uq.edu.au/stories/how-many-career-changes-lifetime [accessed March 2025]
