SOMETIMES WE HAVE an idea of how something is going to be but then when we’re in the thick of it we realize it is NOTHING like we expected. In our 2021 Big Survey, we asked eyecare pros what are the most overrated thing about being a ECP was and rounded up their answer for you counting down from 10…
10. THE FANCY TECHNOLOGY
- “The newest lens tech we get pushed on us. Often, it is crap.”
9. THE INSURANCE “PREMIUM”
- “That vision plans pay us what patients think they do.”
- “Taking insurance and having the practice advertised based on that.”
8. THE ADORING STAFF
- “Thinking I can run a big company by myself.”
- “The level of professionalism.”
7. THE FLEXIBLE HOURS
- “Always being ‘on.’”
- “The ‘flexible hours’ … it’s hard to have when you own the business.”
- “The free time.”
6. THE PROFESSIONAL CAMARADERIE
- “Everyone claiming to be the best doctor in town.”
- “People think I have too much power.”
5. THE ESTEEM OF PATIENTS/CUSTOMERS
- “That patients respect you.”
- “Everyone thinks you can diagnose them over the phone.”
- “That we should price match.”
4. THE RESPECT
- “The lack of respect from other medical professionals.”
- “The prestige of being a doctor, it’s not the same today.”
- “Licensing of opticians is important but paying them isn’t.”
3. THE EXPERTISE
- “I still have patients second guessing me because Google said they had an ear infection instead of end stage diabetes.”
- “How intelligent and well-trained you have to be to sell glasses. It turns out there’s a lot of bozos out there doing it every day.”
2. THE PAY
- “That everyone thinks we are wealthy because we’re doctors.”
- “Low pay for the amount of schooling and loans we have.”
- “Thinking we get paid millions.”
1. THE FINANCIAL REWARDS
- “People think you are making money hand over fist.”
- “That you’ll make a lot of money because of the huge mark-ups on the product.”
- “The most overrated are profits in the industry.”
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But it’s not all bad. This profession is also full of pleasant surprises. When asked what the most under-rated thing about being an ECP was, respondents also had some pretty great answers. Counting down again from 10…
10. THE POTENTIAL TO DO GOOD
- “ECP’s have the potential to have a great influence on a patient’s health.”
- “The role you possibly play.”
9. THE KIDS
- “Dealing with kids. They are hilarious.”
- “The joy in helping a child see with the first pair of glasses.”
8. THE FREEDOM
- “Can make my own hours and vacation time.”
- “The freedom to go fishing whenever.”
- “Frame buying… it is the most fun you can have while getting paid for it.”
7. THE IMPORTANCE
- “That eye health is important.”
- “You only get two eyes.”
- “How important we are in healthcare.”
6. THE PATIENTS/CUSTOMERS
- “The enjoyable patient encounters with pleasant patients.”
- “People can underestimate the relationships you develop with patients and their families.”
- “The wonderful relationships you develop with many of your customers. Like the big hug at the end of the sale.”
5. THE SATISFACTION
- “The personal satisfaction of doing a job well.”
- “The rewarding look when you put the eyewear on and they can see.”
- “How it feels to truly change someone’s life through vision.”
4. THE TIME
- “The hard work, long days, all day interacting with the public.”
- “The amount of personal time you invest.”
- “That you work 9-5. That’s hilarious.”
3. THE KINDNESS
- “Feeling like you can really make a difference in people’s lives.”
- “How much of a difference we make every day in the lives of our patients.”
- “The joy of helping people see.”
2. THE DISRESPECT
- “That you are not a real doctor- our industry still looks like spec peddlers.”
- “Some people don’t realize what all you do and think you just sell glasses.”
- “That we’re just retail and aren’t real healthcare professionals.”
1. THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL
- “People don’t always appreciate that as a licensed professional with 20 plus years of experience I really can help them better than online.”
- “The education that we have received yet medical doctors think we are still opticians.”
- “The complexity of the eye and vision that we take for granted every day.”
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